Thirty-five children have been killed in a crush at a funfair in the south west Nigerian city of Ibadan, with six others hospitalised, the police say.
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.
Residents said that over 5,000 children had gathered at the venue 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.
Eight individuals, including the primary organiser and well-known local resident Naomi Silekunola, have reportedly been taken into custody by the police.
Following the crush at the Islamic High School in the city’s Bashorun sector, the Oyo state administration said that victims had been transported to hospitals throughout Ibadan for medical attention.
According to the report, “multiple loss of lives and injuries” had occurred.
The Oyo state government said victims had been taken to hospitals across Ibadan for treatment after the crush at the Islamic High School in the city’s Bashorun district. It said there had been “multiple loss of lives and injuries”. The authorities have urged parents who are concerned about the whereabouts of their children to check at the city’s hospitals.