Tragedy At Nigerian Funfair: 35 Children Killed In Crowd Crush

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At least 35 children lost their lives, and six others were critically injured in a tragic crowd crush at a funfair in southwest Nigeria on Wednesday, according to police reports.

The devastating incident occurred at an Islamic school in Ibadan, Oyo State. Authorities have arrested eight individuals, including the event’s main sponsor, for their alleged roles in the tragedy, an Oyo State police spokesperson confirmed on Thursday.

The event, organized by Women in Need of Guidance and Support (WING), was intended to host 5,000 children under the age of 13. Promoted as a free event with prizes like scholarships, it tragically ended in chaos, reported local radio station Agidigbo FM.

Condolences from Leaders

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu extended his sympathies to the bereaved families through a statement released by his spokesperson. "In this moment of mourning, President Tinubu stands in solidarity with the affected families and offers prayers that the Almighty God will grant peace to the souls of those who have departed in this unfortunate event,” read the statement, as reported by NAN News.

President Tinubu also urged the Oyo State Government to take necessary precautions to prevent such tragedies in the future.

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde echoed these sentiments, calling it “a very sad day.” In a heartfelt Facebook post, he wrote, “We sympathize with the parents whose joy has suddenly been turned to mourning due to these deaths. I want to reassure our people that anyone directly or remotely involved in this disaster will be held accountable.”

The governor appealed for calm as security agencies launched a thorough investigation into the incident.

Investigation Underway

The case has been handed over to the homicide section of the state’s criminal investigation department. "The Oyo State Police Command sympathizes with all the families and loved ones affected by the tragedy and assures the good people of the state that justice will be served accordingly,” stated the police spokesperson.

A History of Deadly Crowd Surges

Nigeria, a nation of over 236 million people, has faced several deadly crowd crushes in recent years.

  • In February, an unspecified number of people were trampled to death during a rush for discounted rice at a Nigeria Customs Service office in Lagos.
  • In 2022, a church event in Port Harcourt turned deadly, claiming the lives of 30 people, many of them children.
  • In 2019, a political rally resulted in at least four deaths in a similar crowd crush, according to officials.

This latest tragedy underscores the urgent need for better crowd management and safety measures at large gatherings to prevent such heartbreaking incidents in the future.

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