Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children
This aerial photograph reveals a general view of the city of Ibadan in southwestern Nigeria, where the event happened
A stampede at a school funfair in the southwestern Nigerian city of Ibadan has eliminated 35 children and seriously injured 6 others, police said on Thursday.
The hurt children were receiving medical attention following the incident, which on Wednesday in Nigeria’s third-largest city, Oyo State Police Command said.
“8 individuals have since been arrested for their various involvements”, police spokesperson Adewale Osifeso said in a declaration.
Among those apprehended was the main sponsor of the occasion at the Basorun Islamic High School, which was arranged 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 “revealed profound sadness over the awful incident”.
He provided his “genuine acknowledgements” to residents, state authorities and the “grieving families who have actually lost their cherished kids”.
He urged the “Oyo State government to take every essential step to prevent such a disaster from persisting”, the statement by the presidency added.
“Among the essential actions are a comprehensive evaluation of all public occasions’ safety procedures, rigorous enforcement of safety guidelines, and regular safety audits of event locations,” Tinubu added.
– ‘Rest in peace’ –
Nigeria has seen numerous deadly stampedes in recent months.
In March, 2 students died and 23 were injured after being crushed as thousands collected totally free bags of rice distributed by local authorities at Nasarawa State University, in main Nigeria.
Later that month, another stampede eliminated four ladies who had actually been waiting outside the office of a rich entrepreneur in the northern city of Bauchi to collect 5,000 naira ($3.40) money presents to assist pay for food during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Witnesses said members of the crowd pressed to acquire the money, triggering a stampede, as Nigeria grappled with its worst financial crisis in a generation.
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde had actually shared his condolences for the Ibadan victims on X on Wednesday.
“Our hearts stay with the families and loved ones affected by this disaster. May the souls of the left rest in peace,” Makinde said.
“We sympathise with the parents whose joy has actually suddenly been turned to grieving due to these deaths,” he included.
