Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children
This aerial photograph shows a general view of the city of Ibadan in southwestern Nigeria, where the occurrence occurred
A stampede at a school funfair in the southwestern Nigerian city of Ibadan has eliminated 35 children and seriously hurt 6 others, cops said on Thursday.
The injured children were receiving medical attention following the occurrence, which took location on Wednesday in Nigeria’s third-largest city, Oyo State Police Command said.
“8 persons have considering that been arrested for their numerous participations”, authorities representative Adewale Osifeso said in a statement.
Among those apprehended was the main 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 included.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in a statement “expressed profound unhappiness over the awful occurrence”.
He his “wholehearted acknowledgements” to locals, state authorities and the “grieving families who have lost their beloved kids”.
He urged the “Oyo State government to take every needed measure to prevent such a catastrophe from persisting”, the statement by the presidency added.
“Among the vital actions are a thorough evaluation of all public occasions’ security steps, rigorous enforcement of safety policies, and regular security audits of event venues,” Tinubu included.
– ‘Rest in peace’ –
Nigeria has seen a number of fatal stampedes in recent months.
In March, two students passed away and 23 were harmed after being crushed 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 eliminated 4 females who had been waiting outside the workplace of a rich business owner in the northern city of Bauchi to gather 5,000 naira ($3.40) money presents to help pay for food throughout the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Witnesses stated members of the crowd pushed to get hold of the cash, causing a stampede, as Nigeria grappled with its worst recession 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 families and loved ones impacted by this tragedy. May the souls of the left rest in peace,” Makinde stated.
“We sympathise with the moms and dads whose delight has suddenly been turned to mourning due to these deaths,” he included.
