Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children
This aerial picture reveals a general view of the city of Ibadan in southwestern Nigeria, where the occurrence took place
A stampede at a school funfair in the southwestern Nigerian city of Ibadan has actually killed 35 children and seriously injured six others, authorities stated on Thursday.
The injured kids were getting medical attention following the incident, which took place on Wednesday in Nigeria’s third-largest city, Oyo State Police Command stated.
« 8 persons have given that been arrested for their different participations », police representative Adewale Osifeso stated in a statement.
Among those detained was the main sponsor of the event at the Basorun Islamic High School, which was by the Wings Foundation and Agidigbo FM radio.
The Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department has actually opened a probe, Osifeso added.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in a declaration « expressed profound sadness over the awful event ».
He offered his « wholehearted condolences » to residents, state authorities and the « mourning households who have lost their beloved kids ».
He urged the « Oyo State federal government to take every required procedure to avoid such a catastrophe from reoccurring », the declaration by the presidency added.
« Among the vital actions are a detailed evaluation of all public events’ security procedures, strict enforcement of safety regulations, and routine security audits of occasion venues, » Tinubu included.
– ‘Rest in peace’ –
Nigeria has actually seen a number of deadly stampedes in recent months.
In March, 2 students passed away and 23 were injured after being squashed as thousands gathered totally free bags of rice given out by local authorities at Nasarawa State University, in main Nigeria.
Later that month, another stampede killed 4 women who had actually been waiting outside the office of a rich entrepreneur in the northern city of Bauchi to gather 5,000 naira ($3.40) cash gifts to help pay for food throughout the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Witnesses said members of the crowd pushed to get hold of the cash, triggering a stampede, as Nigeria faced its worst financial 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 tragedy. May the souls of the departed rest in peace, » Makinde said.
« We sympathise with the parents whose joy has actually unexpectedly been turned to grieving due to these deaths, » he included.
