ABUJA, Nigeria — Tragedy struck on Wednesday as a stampede at a holiday festival in southwestern Nigeria resulted in the deaths of several children, according to reports from local authorities.

The event took place at the Islamic High School in Basorun, Oyo State, which is situated near Lagos, the country’s economic center. In response to the catastrophe, security personnel arrived on the scene and detained the organizers of the event, as confirmed by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.

“This morning, a tragic incident occurred at the Islamic High School Basorun, where an event meant to be a joyful gathering for families turned deadly. The stampede has led to multiple fatalities and numerous injuries. It is indeed a very sorrowful day,” Makinde expressed in his statement.

He extended condolences to the families affected by the tragedy, stating, “We share in the grief of parents whose happiness has turned to mourning in light of these unfortunate deaths.”

Nigeria’s national emergency service has dispatched a team to assist those affected by the disaster. Injured children were transported to local hospitals, where parents were encouraged to look for any missing children.

Footage from the event depicted a large group of children witnessing the distressing scene as some were carried away from an adjacent open field.

According to local media, the organizers of the troubled event were identified as the Women In Need Of Guidance and Support Foundation, which hosted a similar festival for children the previous year.

The group had anticipated hosting around 5,000 young attendees at this year’s gathering, as reported by Agidigbo FM, an Oyo-based radio station that had featured the organizers in a program. They had mentioned that children “would have the chance to win exciting prizes including scholarships and other generous gifts.”

In light of the incident, Governor Makinde has announced an investigation to determine the factors leading to the stampede, stressing that “anyone who played a role, directly or indirectly, in this calamity will face accountability.”