Tragic Funfair Disaster in Nigeria Claims Lives of 35 Children, Police Report

Tragic Funfair Disaster in Nigeria Claims Lives of 35 Children, Police Report

Crowd Crush at Nigerian Funfair Claims Lives

Source: CNN

Incident Overview

  • At least 35 children tragically died and six others were critically injured in a crowd crush at a funfair in Ibadan, Nigeria.
  • The incident occurred during an event organized by the Women in Need of Guidance and Support (WING), which aimed to host 5,000 children under 13 years old.

Arrests Made

  • Eight individuals, including the event's main sponsor, have been arrested for their alleged roles in the crush.

Responses from Authorities

  • Nigerian President Bola Tinubu expressed his condolences and emphasized the need for preventive measures to avoid future tragedies.
  • Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde described the day as “very sad” and assured that those responsible would be held accountable.

Historical Context

  • This incident is part of a troubling trend in Nigeria, where multiple crowd crushes have occurred in recent years, resulting in numerous fatalities.
  • Examples include a crush that killed many at a church event in Port Harcourt in 2022 and at a political rally in 2019.