ABUJA, Dec 19 (NNN-NAN) – At least 30 children were killed and dozens of others injured yesterday, in a stampede at a children’s carnival, organised in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State in south-western Nigeria, local media reported.
The carnival took a devastating turn after the private organisers of the event announced plans to distribute cash to 5,000 children, which triggered a chaotic rush to enter the high school, the venue of the funfair in the Basorun area of Ibadan yesterday morning, local TVC News reported.
In a statement, Oyo State’s Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, blamed the lack of proper planning and coordination by the event organisers for the loss of lives. He said the victims are mostly children.
The government has not yet compiled a complete list of the victims, who were transported to various hospitals across Ibadan for treatment, the commissioner added.
“Parents who are concerned about the whereabouts of their children are urged to check the medical facilities in Ibadan, where children affected were taken for proper medical attention with valid means of identification,” he said, adding that, the police have commenced an investigation into the incident.– NNN-NAN
