Dozens of children killed in crush at Nigerian funfair

The aftermath of a stampede at a religious festival for young people in Ibadan, southwestern Nigeria, which caused several deaths

Ibadan, Nigeria, December 19 – Thirty-five children have been killed in a crush at a religious festival in the south-west Nigerian city of Ibadan in Oyo state, with six others hospitalised, the police say.

The incident occurred on Wednesday at an Islamic high school, where up to 5,000 young people and children had reportedly gathered for the event and the crush occurred when the main organisers arrived to start the event.

The sequence of events leading to the crush has not been disclosed.

The event was advertised as free entry and drew a large crowd but so many people turned up that there was a crush as they struggled to gain entry.

The police say they have arrested eight people who were behind the event, including the main organiser, Naomi Silekunola, a well-known figure in the city.

Local media identified the event organisers as the Women In Need Of Guidance and Support Foundation, which held a similar festival last year.

The festival organisers had promised participants would “win exciting prizes like scholarships and other bountiful gifts”.

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, said in a statement on X that the disaster had caused “multiple loss of lives and injuries” and that security forces had been deployed to get the situation under control and evacuate attendees from the site.

Video footage that appeared to be from the scene showed a large crowd of mostly children looking on as some were carried off the site to local hospitals.

“This is a very sad day,” Makinde said. “We sympathise with the parents whose joy has suddenly been turned to mourning due to these deaths.”

“While investigations are ongoing, the primary organisers of the event that led to this stampede have been taken into custody,” he said.

He promised that “anyone directly or remotely involved in this disaster” would be held accountable.

The authorities have urged parents who are concerned about the whereabouts of their children to check at the city’s hospitals.