A stampede at a children’s carnival in the Bashorun area of Ibadan, Oyo State, has reportedly claimed the lives of several children, with others sustaining injuries.
The incident occurred on Wednesday during a funfair held at the Basorun Islamic High School. Witnesses said the rush to gain access to the venue led to the tragic stampede.
Reports indicate that some parents brought their children to the venue as early as Tuesday, while others arrived in the early hours of Wednesday, leading to overcrowding.
Although the exact number of casualties has yet to be confirmed, victims were rushed to hospitals across Ibadan for medical attention.
The Oyo State Government confirmed the incident in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade.
“A stampede occurred at the private children’s fun fair held at Basorun Islamic High School, leading to loss of lives, mostly children, with some others injured in the early hours of today,” Oyelade said.
He added that the state government had deployed a rapid response team to the scene and ensured victims were transported to hospitals for treatment.
Efforts to reach the Public Relations Officer of the Oyo State Police Command, Adewale Osifeso, for comments were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
Investigations into the cause of the stampede and the extent of the casualties are ongoing.
