Stampede at youth festival in Nigeria causes ‘multiple’ deaths

Security forces arrest organisers of event, which was attended by about 5,000 people drawn by ‘exciting prizes’.

A stampede at a religious festival in Nigeria attended by thousands of young people has resulted in several deaths, local officials say.

The incident occurred on Wednesday at an Islamic high school in Ibadan, the capital of Nigeria’s southwest Oyo State, where up to 5,000 young people and children had reportedly gathered for the event.

State Governor Seyi Makinde said in a statement on X that the disaster had caused “multiple loss of lives and injuries” and that security forces had been deployed to get the situation under control and evacuate attendees from the site.

Statement by His Excellency Seyi Makinde Following the Stampede at Islamic High School, Basorun, Ibadan

Earlier today, an incident occurred in Islamic High School Basorun, the venue of an event organised for families. Sadly, a stampede at the venue has led to multiple loss of… pic.twitter.com/X8jYeaGK63

— Seyi Makinde (@seyiamakinde) December 18, 2024

Video footage that appeared to be from the scene showed a large crowd of mostly children looking on as some were carried off the site to local hospitals, according to news agency The Associated Press.

“This is a very sad day,” Makinde said. “We sympathise with the parents whose joy has suddenly been turned to mourning due to these deaths.”

“While investigations are ongoing, the primary organisers of the event that led to this stampede have been taken into custody,” he said.

He promised that “anyone directly or remotely involved in this disaster” would be held accountable.

Local media identified the event organisers as the Women In Need Of Guidance and Support Foundation, which held a similar festival last year.

The group was preparing to host up to 5,000 young people at this year’s event, according to the Oyo-based Agidigbo FM radio station.

The festival organisers had promised participants would “win exciting prizes like scholarships and other bountiful gifts”.

Nigeria’s national emergency services said a team had been deployed to provide assistance to the victims.

Source

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Al Jazeera and news agencies