Nigeria School Fair Stampede Kills 35 Children
This aerial picture shows a general view of the city of Ibadan in southwestern Nigeria, where the occurrence happened
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A stampede at a school funfair in the southwestern Nigerian city of Ibadan has killed 35 kids and seriously hurt 6 others, cops said on Thursday.
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The injured kids were getting medical attention following the incident, which happened on Wednesday in Nigeria's third-largest city, Oyo State Police Command stated.
"8 individuals have since been arrested for their numerous participations", police spokesperson Adewale Osifeso stated in a statement.
Among those apprehended was the main 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 opened a probe, .
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in a statement "revealed profound sadness over the awful event".
He used his "wholehearted condolences" to locals, state authorities and the "grieving families who have lost their beloved children".
He advised the "Oyo State federal government to take every needed step to avoid such a catastrophe from reoccurring", the statement by the presidency included.
"Among the important actions are a thorough review of all public events' safety procedures, rigorous enforcement of safety guidelines, and routine security audits of event places," Tinubu added.
- 'Rest in peace' -
Nigeria has seen a number of lethal stampedes in recent months.
In March, two trainees passed away and 23 were harmed after being crushed as thousands gathered free of charge bags of rice distributed by local authorities at Nasarawa State University, in central Nigeria.
Later that month, another stampede eliminated 4 women 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 gifts to assist spend for food during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Witnesses said members of the crowd pushed to acquire the cash, triggering a stampede, as Nigeria came to grips with its worst recession in a generation.
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde had actually shared his acknowledgements for the Ibadan victims on X on Wednesday.
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"Our hearts remain 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 parents whose happiness has suddenly been turned to mourning due to these deaths," he included.