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Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial photo reveals a general view of the city of Ibadan in southwestern Nigeria, where the event took place

A stampede at a school funfair in the southwestern Nigerian city of Ibadan has actually killed 35 kids and seriously injured six others, police said on Thursday.

The injured children were getting medical attention following the occurrence, which took location on Wednesday in Nigeria’s third-largest city, Oyo State Police Command stated.

„8 individuals have considering that been arrested for their various involvements“, cops spokesperson Adewale Osifeso stated in a declaration.

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 actually opened a probe, Osifeso added.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in a declaration „expressed extensive unhappiness over the tragic occurrence“.

He offered his „wholehearted condolences“ to locals, state authorities and the „grieving households who have actually lost their beloved kids“.

He urged the „Oyo State federal government to take every needed step to prevent such a tragedy from reoccurring“, the statement by the presidency added.

„Among the important actions are a comprehensive review of all public occasions‘ safety steps, rigorous enforcement of security guidelines, and routine security audits of occasion venues,“ Tinubu included.

– ‚Rest in peace‘ –

Nigeria has seen a number of fatal stampedes in current months.

In March, two trainees passed away and 23 were injured after being crushed as thousands collected for free bags of rice handed out by regional authorities at State University, in central Nigeria.

Later that month, another stampede killed 4 females who had been waiting outside the workplace of a wealthy entrepreneur in the northern city of Bauchi to collect 5,000 naira ($3.40) cash gifts to help pay for food during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Witnesses stated 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 shared his acknowledgements for the Ibadan victims on X on Wednesday.

„Our hearts stay with the families and liked ones impacted by this tragedy. May the souls of the left rest in peace,“ Makinde stated.

„We sympathise with the moms and dads whose happiness has actually unexpectedly been turned to mourning due to these deaths,“ he included.