This aerial photo reveals a basic 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 eliminated 35 kids and seriously hurt 6 others, police stated on Thursday.
The injured kids were getting medical attention following the event, which occurred on Wednesday in Nigeria’s third-largest city, Oyo State Police Command said.
“8 individuals have since been arrested for their various participations”, police 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 opened a probe, Osifeso added.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in a statement “expressed profound unhappiness over the terrible event”.
He offered his “genuine condolences” to residents, state authorities and the “grieving households who have lost their beloved children”.
He advised the “Oyo State federal government to take every necessary step to prevent such a catastrophe from repeating”, the statement by the presidency included.
“Among the essential actions are a thorough review of all public events’ safety procedures, strict enforcement of security policies, and routine security audits of event places,” Tinubu included.
– ‘Rest in peace’ –
Nigeria has seen numerous lethal stampedes in current months.
In March, two trainees passed away and 23 were harmed after being crushed 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 females who had actually been waiting outside the office of a rich businessman in the northern city of Bauchi to gather 5,000 naira ($3.40) cash gifts to help spend for food during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Witnesses said members of the crowd pressed to get hold of the cash, causing a stampede, as Nigeria came to grips 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 enjoyed ones impacted by this disaster. May the souls of the left rest in peace,” said.
“We sympathise with the moms and dads whose pleasure has all of a sudden been turned to grieving due to these deaths,” he added.
