A crush at a playground in the southwestern Nigerian city of Ibadan left 35 children dead and six others hospitalized, police said.

The event, which was advertised as free admission, attracted large crowds, but overcrowding occurred due to the large number of people making it difficult for them to gain entry.

Residents said more than 5,000 children had gathered at the venue and a crowding incident occurred when the main organizers arrived for the event to begin.

The sequence of events leading up to the squeeze has not been disclosed.

Police said they had arrested eight people behind the event, including the main organizer and well-known figure in the city, Naomi Silekunola.

The Oyo State Government said the victims have been taken to hospitals across Ibadan for treatment following a car accident at Islamic High School in Bashorun area of ​​the city.

The statement said “several people were killed and injured”.

Authorities urged parents concerned about their children’s whereabouts to go to the city’s hospitals for tests.