Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial photograph shows 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 killed 35 kids and seriously hurt 6 others, cops stated on Thursday.

The injured kids were getting medical attention following the event, which happened on Wednesday in Nigeria's third-largest city, Oyo State Police Command stated.

"8 persons have because been arrested for their different participations", cops representative Adewale Osifeso stated in a statement.

Among those apprehended was the primary 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 Department has actually opened a probe, Osifeso added.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in a statement "revealed profound sadness over the terrible incident".

He used his "genuine condolences" to locals, state authorities and the "mourning families who have actually lost their cherished kids".

He advised the "Oyo State government to take every necessary measure to prevent such a tragedy from repeating", the declaration by the presidency included.

"Among the necessary actions are a detailed review of all public occasions' security measures, rigorous enforcement of security regulations, and regular safety audits of event locations," Tinubu included.

- 'Rest in peace' -

Nigeria has actually seen numerous deadly stampedes in current months.

In March, 2 students passed away and 23 were harmed after being crushed as thousands collected totally free bags of rice distributed by local authorities at Nasarawa State University, in central Nigeria.

Later that month, another stampede killed 4 ladies who had been waiting outside the workplace of a rich business person 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 pressed to get hold of the money, triggering 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 households and enjoyed ones impacted by this tragedy. May the souls of the left rest in peace," Makinde stated.

"We sympathise with the moms and dads whose pleasure has all of a sudden been turned to mourning due to these deaths," he added.