Yohaig NG News

Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial picture shows a basic view of the city of Ibadan in southwestern Nigeria, where the event took place

A stampede at a school funfair in the southwestern Nigerian city of Ibadan has killed 35 children and seriously hurt six others, authorities stated on Thursday.

The injured children were getting medical attention following the incident, which took place on Wednesday in Nigeria’s third-largest city, Oyo State Police Command stated.

“8 individuals have actually because been detained for their numerous involvements”, cops representative Adewale Osifeso said in a statement.

Among those detained was the main sponsor of the event at the Basorun Islamic High School, which was organised by the Wings Foundation and Agidigbo FM radio.

The Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department has opened a probe, Osifeso added.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in a declaration “expressed profound sadness over the awful occurrence”.

He provided his “wholehearted acknowledgements” to residents, state authorities and the “grieving households who have actually lost their cherished kids”.

He urged the “Oyo State government to take every needed step to prevent such a disaster from returning”, the statement by the presidency included.

“Among the necessary actions are a thorough evaluation of all public occasions’ precaution, stringent enforcement of safety guidelines, and routine safety audits of occasion venues,” .

– ‘Rest in peace’ –

Nigeria has seen a number of deadly stampedes in current months.

In March, two students passed away and 23 were injured after being crushed as thousands gathered totally free bags of rice given out by regional authorities at Nasarawa State University, in central Nigeria.

Later that month, another stampede killed 4 females who had been waiting outside the workplace of a rich business person in the northern city of Bauchi to gather 5,000 naira ($3.40) cash presents to help spend for food during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses said members of the crowd pushed to acquire the cash, causing a stampede, as Nigeria grappled with its worst economic crisis in a generation.

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde had shared his acknowledgements for the Ibadan victims on X on Wednesday.

“Our hearts stay with the households and liked ones affected by this catastrophe. May the souls of the departed rest in peace,” Makinde stated.

“We sympathise with the moms and dads whose delight has actually all of a sudden been turned to mourning due to these deaths,” he added.