Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children
This aerial picture reveals a basic view of the city of Ibadan in southwestern Nigeria, where the incident occurred
A stampede at a school funfair in the southwestern Nigerian city of Ibadan has killed 35 children and seriously injured six others, police stated on Thursday.
The injured kids were getting medical attention following the event, which took place on Wednesday in Nigeria’s third-largest city, Oyo State Police Command stated.
«8 individuals have actually considering that been arrested for their different participations», cops representative Adewale Osifeso said in a statement.
Among those apprehended was the primary sponsor of the occasion 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 statement «expressed profound sadness over the terrible event».
He used his «heartfelt acknowledgements» to locals, state authorities and the «grieving families who have lost their beloved kids».
He urged the «Oyo State federal government to take every essential measure to prevent such a disaster from repeating», the statement by the presidency added.
«Among the necessary actions are a detailed evaluation of all public events’ security measures, stringent enforcement of security policies, and routine safety audits of event locations,» Tinubu added.
– ‘Rest in peace’ –
Nigeria has seen several in current months.
In March, two trainees died and 23 were hurt after being crushed as thousands collected for complimentary bags of rice handed out by local authorities at Nasarawa State University, in main Nigeria.
Later that month, another stampede killed 4 women who had been waiting outside the office of a rich entrepreneur in the northern city of Bauchi to collect 5,000 naira ($3.40) cash presents to help pay for food during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Witnesses stated members of the crowd pressed to get hold of the cash, triggering a stampede, as Nigeria grappled with its worst recession in a generation.
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde had actually shared his acknowledgements for the Ibadan victims on X on Wednesday.
«Our hearts stay with the families and enjoyed ones impacted by this tragedy. May the souls of the departed rest in peace,» Makinde said.
«We sympathise with the parents whose happiness has actually unexpectedly been turned to grieving due to these deaths,» he included.
