NIGERIA – Thirty-five children have been killed in a crush at a Christmas funfair in the south-west Nigerian city of Ibadan, with six others hospitalised, the police say. The organisers had promised to give cash handouts and also food but so many people turned up that there was a crush as they struggled to gain entry.

Residents said that over 5,000 children had gathered at the venue and the crush occurred when the main organisers arrived to start the event. The sequence of events leading to the crush has not been disclosed. The police say they have arrested eight people who were behind the event, including the main organiser, Naomi Silekunola, a well-known figure in the city. The Oyo state government said victims had been taken to hospitals across Ibadan for treatment after the crush at the Islamic High School in the city’s Bashorun district.

Authorities have urged parents who are concerned about the whereabouts of their children to check at the city’s hospitals. Medics in one hospital told the BBC that six children had been admitted but only two survived – four had died. At another hospital, a doctor who declined to be named said he had counted three dead bodies. Some affected parents told journalists that they had accompanied their children to converge at the venue of the “End of the Year Christmas funfair” as early as 05:00 on Wednesday – five hours before the event was due to start. (BBC)

Photo: Some 10,000 people reportedly turned up to the event.