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|---|---|
| Date | 19 December 2024 |
| Location | Islamic High School, Bashorun District, Ibadan, Nigeria |
| Caused by | Under investigation |
| Casualties | |
| Death(s) | 35+ |
| Injuries | 6+ |
On 19 December 2024, thirty-five children died in a crowd crush during a Christmas funfair event in Ibadan, Nigeria. The incident occurred at the Islamic High School in the city's Bashorun district, where thousands of children and family members had gathered for advertised cash handouts and food distributions. Six additional children required hospitalization following the tragedy.
Background
A Christmas funfair event taking place on 19 December 2024 at the Islamic High School in the city's Bashorun district was organized by local figure Naomi Silekunola and the Women In Need Of Guidance and Support Foundation. The event, which had been held in previous years, had advertised distributions of 5,000 naira (~US$3.20) to 5,000 children, free food, and event prizes which included scholarships. Offerings of financial assistance were noted to have drawn particular attention due to Nigeria's ongoing economic crisis, which had been characterized as the nation's worst in a generation.
Tragedy
Attendees began arriving at the funfair as early as 5:00 AM, five hours before the scheduled start time. Reports indicated that over 5,000 children had assembled at the venue. The fatal crush occurred when the event organizers arrived to commence proceedings, though the exact sequence of events remains under investigation.
Medical facilities across Ibadan received multiple victims of the crush. At one hospital, medical staff reported six admissions with only two survivors. Another facility confirmed three fatalities.
Aftermath
Police arrested eight individuals connected to the event, including the primary organizer, Naomi Silekunola. The organizing body of the event, The Women In Need Of Guidance and Support Foundation, faced immediate scrutiny over their role in the tragedy.
President Bola Tinubu ordered a comprehensive investigation, and expressed condolences to affected families.
References
- ^ "Ibadan crush: 35 children killed at Nigeria funfair". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
- ^ "Dozens killed in stampede at youth festival in Nigeria". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-12-19.