Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children

This aerial photo reveals a general view of the city of Ibadan in southwestern Nigeria, where the incident happened

A stampede at a school funfair in the city of Ibadan has actually killed 35 kids and seriously hurt 6 others, cops stated on Thursday.

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

"8 individuals have actually because been arrested for their different involvements", police 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 Criminal Investigation Department has actually opened a probe, Osifeso added.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in a declaration "revealed profound unhappiness over the awful event".

He used his "sincere condolences" to residents, state authorities and the "grieving families who have lost their beloved children".

He advised the "Oyo State federal government to take every required step to avoid such a tragedy from reoccurring", the statement by the presidency added.

"Among the essential actions are a comprehensive evaluation of all public occasions' precaution, strict enforcement of safety policies, and regular security audits of event locations," Tinubu added.

- 'Rest in peace' -

Nigeria has actually seen numerous deadly stampedes in current months.

In March, two trainees died and 23 were harmed after being crushed as thousands gathered free of charge bags of rice given out by local authorities at Nasarawa State University, in central Nigeria.

Later that month, another stampede eliminated four ladies who had actually been waiting outside the workplace of a wealthy businessman in the northern city of Bauchi to collect 5,000 naira ($3.40) cash gifts 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 economic 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 disaster. May the souls of the departed rest in peace," Makinde said.

"We sympathise with the parents whose joy has all of a sudden been turned to mourning due to these deaths," he added.