On Wednesday, December 18, 2024, a disastrous crowd crush occurred at an Islamic high school’s Christmas fair in Ibadan, Nigeria’s third-largest city, resulting in the death of at least 35 children. Another six children sustained severe injuries at the event, which had attracted thousands due to the promise of scholarships and food.
The calamity unfolded at Basorun Islamic High School during an event hosted by the Women in Need of Guidance and Support Foundation (WINGS) and Agidigbo 88.7 FM radio station. The event had promised that children could win “exciting prizes like scholarships and other bountiful gifts.” According to police reports, up to 5,000 children under the age of 13 were estimated to attend the event.
Video footage showed a considerable crowd, mainly consisting of children, watching as some were carried away from an open field. In the midst of the chaos, parents were spotted carrying the lifeless bodies of their children, and emergency responders were struggling to handle the overwhelming situation.
Seyi Makinde, the Governor of Oyo State, expressed his condolences on social media platform X, saying, “We sympathize with the parents whose joy has suddenly been turned to mourning due to these deaths. Our hearts remain with the families and loved ones impacted by this tragedy. May the souls of the departed rest in peace.”
Police spokesperson Adewale Osifeso reported that eight individuals have been arrested for their varying degrees of involvement in the incident. Detained individuals include the former Queen of the Ooni of Ife, Prophetess Naomi Silekunola, who is the founder of the organizing non-governmental organization, and the principal of the school. A homicide investigation has been initiated, and the case has been forwarded to the state’s criminal investigation department.
As the situation worsened, security agents were dispatched to restore order. Six children suffered critical injuries in the stampede and were transported to local hospitals for treatment, according to CNN. Medical staff worked tirelessly through the night to tend to the injured children, many of whom were in critical condition.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu expressed deep sorrow over the deaths and instructed the Oyo State government to revise safety procedures and perform routine safety audits at event venues. The president also called for the enforcement of stricter regulations governing public gatherings.
The allure of potential prizes attracted many to the event, as Nigeria is currently grappling with its worst economic crisis in a generation. Inflation rates are skyrocketing, and food prices have reached unprecedented levels.
This tragedy is the latest in a series of similar incidents in Nigeria this year. In March, two students died, and 23 were injured at a rice distribution event at Nasarawa State University in central Nigeria.
That same month, a crowd crush outside a businessman’s office in Bauchi resulted in the death of four women who were there to receive cash gifts of 5,000 naira ($2.70) during Ramadan.
In Lagos, a crowd surge during the auction of seized bags of rice by the Nigerian Customs Service led to the death of five individuals.
