On Wednesday, December 18, 2024, a tragic event unfolded in Ibadan, Nigeria’s third-largest city, at the Basorun Islamic High School’s Christmas fair. During the event, a crowd crush resulted in the deaths of at least 35 children, while six others were critically injured. The fair, which attracted thousands of attendees for the promise of scholarships and food distributions, turned into a catastrophe.
The Women in Need of Guidance and Support Foundation (WINGS) and Agidigbo 88.7 FM radio station organized the event. The fair was promoted with the promise of “exciting prizes like scholarships and other bountiful gifts” for children. Police estimated that as many as 5,000 children under the age of 13 were anticipated to attend.
Video recordings from the scene depicted a large crowd, mostly made up of children, watching as others were taken away from the open field. Amid the chaos, distressed parents were seen carrying their children’s lifeless bodies while emergency responders endeavored to handle the overwhelming situation.
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde 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.”
According to police spokesperson Adewale Osifeso, eight people were arrested for their roles in the incident, including the founder of the organizing non-governmental organization, Prophetess Naomi Silekunola, who is also the former Queen of the Ooni of Ife, and the principal of the school. A homicide investigation was initiated, and the case was handed over to the state’s criminal investigation department.
As the situation escalated, security agents were called in to restore order. Six children who were critically injured during the stampede were rushed to local hospitals for treatment, as reported by CNN. Medical staff worked tirelessly through the night to treat the injured children, many of whom were in critical condition.
President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria expressed deep sorrow over the incident and instructed the Oyo State government to reevaluate safety measures and carry out routine safety audits at event locations. He also called for stricter regulations for public gatherings.
The allure of prizes attracted a large crowd as Nigeria is currently facing its most severe economic crisis in a generation, with skyrocketing inflation rates and food prices reaching an all-time high.
This incident is not an isolated one, as Nigeria has seen several similar tragedies this year. In March, a rice distribution event at Nasarawa State University in central Nigeria resulted in the deaths of two students and injuries to 23 others.
Later in the same month, a crowd crush outside a businessman’s office in Bauchi led to the deaths of four women who had gathered to receive cash donations of 5,000 naira ($2.70) during Ramadan. In Lagos, an auction of seized bags of rice by the Nigerian Customs Service resulted in a crowd surge that caused the deaths of five people.
