35 Children Killed in Crush at Nigerian Funfair

The event was advertised as free entry and drew a large crowd 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.

It said there had been "multiple loss of lives and injuries".

The authorities have urged parents who are concerned about the whereabouts of their children to check at the city's hospitals.