Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children
This aerial picture shows a general view of the city of Ibadan in southwestern Nigeria, where the event occurred
A stampede at a school funfair in the southwestern Nigerian city of Ibadan has actually killed 35 kids and seriously injured six others, authorities said on Thursday.
The injured kids were getting medical attention following the incident, which occurred on Wednesday in Nigeria’s third-largest city, Oyo State Police Command stated.
“8 persons have given that been apprehended for their different participations”, police representative Adewale Osifeso stated in a declaration.
Among those detained was the primary 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 “revealed profound sadness over the tragic occurrence”.
He provided his “sincere acknowledgements” to locals, state authorities and the “grieving families who have lost their cherished children”.
He advised the “Oyo State federal government to take every essential measure to prevent such a catastrophe from returning”, the declaration by the presidency added.
“Among the important actions are a detailed review of all public occasions’ security measures, stringent enforcement of security regulations, and regular security audits of event places,” Tinubu added.
– ‘Rest in peace’ –
Nigeria has actually seen a number of deadly stampedes in recent months.
In March, two trainees passed away and 23 were injured after being squashed as thousands collected totally free bags of rice given out by local authorities at Nasarawa State University, in central Nigeria.
Later that month, another stampede killed 4 ladies who had actually been waiting outside the workplace of a wealthy businessman in the northern city of Bauchi to 5,000 naira ($3.40) cash presents to help pay for food throughout the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Witnesses said members of the crowd pressed to get hold of the cash, causing a stampede, as Nigeria faced 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 loved ones impacted by this disaster. May the souls of the left rest in peace,” Makinde said.
“We sympathise with the parents whose happiness has all of a sudden been turned to mourning due to these deaths,” he included.
