The Oyo State Police Command on Thursday detained a former queen of the Ooni of Ife, Prophetess Naomi Silekunola, and six others as investigation into the stampede at a funfair in Ibadan on Wednesday continues.
The police also confirmed 35 children dead, with six others sustaining varying degrees of injuries following the pandemonium.
A non-governmental organisation, Women in Need of Guidance and Support, founded by Naomi Silekunola had organised the funfair at the Islamic High School, Basorun, Ibadan on Wednesday but the event, however, turned tragic as a crowd thronged the venue, resulting in the stampede that led to the deaths.
The PUNCH learnt from multiple eyewitness accounts that several participants were trampled upon as they rushed to gain access to the venue of the event reportedly organised by Silekunola and an Ibadan-based broadcaster, Oriyomi Hamzat.
It was further gathered that while the organisers made provision for 5,000 children, over 7, 500 participants turned up for the event.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, in a statement, said, “Among those detained are Silekunola, aged 31, and Fasasi Abdulahi, the 56-year-old principal of the school.
“The other individuals arrested include Genesis Christopher, Tanimowo Moruf, Anisolaja Olabode, Idowu Ibrahim, and Abiola Oluwatimilehin, with ages ranging from 25 to 52 years.
“The stampede resulted in the tragic loss of 35 minors, with six additional children reported to be in critical condition and receiving various medical interventions.
“So far, 35 minors have been documented dead while six others are critically injured.”
Osifeso said the police command had taken significant steps in the investigation, transferring the case to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department, where the Deputy Commissioner of Police is leading the inquiry.
The PPRO assured the public that justice would be served accordingly.
“In light of the incident, the police have increased their presence in the area to maintain peace and security, while residents have been advised not to panic, as police patrols will be heightened to prevent any potential unrest.
“Residents around the area are advised not to panic as they would witness high-level patrols and visible police presence,” the statement emphasised.
The command expressed its condolences to the families affected by the tragedy.
Following aggrieved parents demand for the corpses of their children from several hospitals they were rushed to, Oyo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, said parents had been granted custody of the bodies of the victims.
He said, “To the best of our knowledge, the parents are in custody of the bodies of the victims. And in any case, many of them demanded that their corpses be released to them.”
The victims, according to Oyelade, were admitted at Patnas Hospital, Basorun; Western Hospital, Basorun; Ring Road State Hospital; Molly Specialist Hospital and University College Hospital.
Parents groan
Multiple sources told our correspondents that some of the children, including their parents, were said to have kept vigil at the venue of the event.
One of our correspondents had also observed that an uncontrollable crowd caused gridlock on the Basorun-Idi Ape Road prior to the stampede.
Parents of some of the children who survived the stampede narrated their harrowing experiences before, during and after the incident.
Speaking with The PUNCH at the Adeoyo Specialist Hospital, Ring Road, in Ibadan, some of the survivors, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they arrived at the venue as early as 5.30am while some passed the night on the premises.
A survivor, who simply identified herself as Iya Ayomide, said, “Honestly, I regret my action, and I will never do that again in my life. I made that decision late on Tuesday night. I was staying at Agbowo in the Ibadan North Local Government Area of the state.
“A co-tenant approached me that night that we should go to the event the following day (Wednesday), and I informed my husband, who permitted me to go alongside my children.
“I left home a few minutes after 5am with my two children. One is three-and-a-half years and the second seven years.
“We got there around 5:40am. By then, the whole area was tense. The turnout was massive. The organisers locked the gate and prevented everybody from gaining access to the venue of the programme.
“Shortly after, Oriyomi Hamzat came in and ordered that the gate be left open so that we could gain entrance into the venue. But because we were not patient enough, everybody tried to gain access to the venue at the same time, resulting in a stampede.
“For almost five minutes, I couldn’t see my daughter. About five people already covered her. They were trampling on me as well. I managed to locate her and started biting them one after the other before I was able to rescue her.
“As I rescued her, someone collected her from me and rushed down to the ambulance, where they gave her first aid. She is recovering very fast now. The other child is hale and hearty,” she narrated.
Others who spoke with The PUNCH could not hold back their tears as they blamed themselves for taking their children to the venue.
Another parent, in an emotion-laden voice, said, “Though my child is recovering, I regret all my actions, but thank God for sparing our lives.
“It was a terrible experience that I will never wish on anybody, even my enemy. I didn’t know if I was dead or not, because it got to a stage where I was asking someone if I was still alive.”
Following the incident, the owner of Agidigbo FM, Ibadan, Oriyomi Hamzat, has been reportedly hospitalised.
Oriyomi’s elder brother, Fuhad Hamzat, said due to his inability to grasp the magnitude of the incident, the Agidigbo founder became unconscious and had to be hospitalised.
Pictures sent to The PUNCH showed Oriyomi Hamzat on a bed receiving oxygen with a cylinder seen beside him.
A text message sent to our correspondent also read, “The Chairman, Agidigbo FM, is currently unconscious and at an undisclosed hospital in Ibadan. This happened due to the tragic event that happened yesterday (Wednesday). He could not handle the shock and passed out.”
Hamzat had on Wednesday sympathised with the victims in a statement signed by Agidigbo FM Director of Programmes, Olayinka Abdulwahab, stressing that the radio station was a media partner to the event and not the organiser of the funfair.
He stressed that the management made frantic moves to sensitise the participants when it realised that the venue was crowded.
Hamzat stated, “This is to inform the general public that the management of Agidigbo FM, Ibadan received the news of the tragedy that heralded the children’s funfair at Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan, organised by the WINGS Foundation, with great shock and wholeheartedly commiserate with the families involved.
“Amidst the tragedy, the news making the rounds is that Agidigbo FM is the organiser of the children’s funfair. However, the management wishes to state that Agidigbo FM is not the organiser of the event but one of the media outfits used to promote the event.
“Upon receiving the notice that a mammoth crowd had assembled before 5am at the venue, Agidigbo FM, the people’s voice, used all media strategies to sensitise the populace with jingles and public service announcements from that time, that people should stop going to the venue of the funfair.
“This is not the time to spread misinformation. The management of Agidigbo FM implores the general public to continue to pray for the speedy recovery of those in various hospitals and sympathises with the family of those who lost their lives.”
Tinubu, wife mourn
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday expressed sadness over the tragic incident in Ibadan and directed relevant authorities to investigate the circumstances of the tragedy thoroughly.
This would involve “a comprehensive review of all public events’ safety measures, strict enforcement of safety regulations, and regular safety audits of event venues,” the President said in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The President extended his condolences to the government and people of Oyo State, as well as to the grieving families, who lost their children.
“Our children’s safety and well-being remain paramount. No event should ever compromise their safety or take precedence over their lives,” Tinubu said.
“In this moment of mourning, President Tinubu stands in solidarity with the affected families and offers prayers that the Almighty God will grant peace to the souls of those who have departed in this unfortunate event.
“President Tinubu has urgently directed the relevant authorities to investigate the circumstances of this tragedy thoroughly,” the statement read.
The President urged the Oyo State government to take every necessary measure to prevent such a tragedy from recurring.
Also, the wife of the President, Oluremi Tinubu, condoled with families of children who lost their lives in the tragic incident.
She also prayed for the speedy recovery and total healing for those in the hospital.
In a personal statement on Thursday, she said, “I condole with the Governor of Oyo State, HE Seyi Makinde and the people of Oyo State on the tragedy that occurred on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, where the lives of many children were lost in a stampede.
“I sympathise with the families, friends and loved ones of the deceased. I also pray for speedy recovery and total healing for those still in the hospital.
“May the Lord grant peace to Oyo State, comfort to the families who have lost their loved ones and hope to those grieving at this time.
“My heartfelt condolences to all those affected by this devastating incident.”
Ooni condoles ex-queen
The palace of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, also sympathised with the Oyo State Government, and organisers of the children’s party over the loss of lives.
In a statement signed by Ooni’s spokesman, Moses Olafare, and obtained in Osogbo on Thursday, the monarch also commiserated with Hamzat over the incident.
Olafare, who said Ooni’s palace shared in the grief and pains that the families of the deceased must be passing through, prayed for divine strength for them to bear the loss.
He noted that the tragedy had brought to the fore the urgent need for collaborative efforts in ensuring the safety and well-being of children across Nigeria.
The palace commended the responsiveness of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, to the development.
“While at the Ile Oodua here as a queen, Miss Naomi Silekuola Ogunseyi demonstrated love and care to the children of Ile-Ife through similar events, which she executed passionately to give succour to children of indigent parents every December, during periods like this.
“The House of Oduduwa pledges to support all efforts aimed at bringing solace and healing to those affected by this devastating loss.
“The House of Oduduwa calls for immediate action to prevent such unfortunate incidents in the future, emphasising the need for rigorous adherence to safety standards and child welfare policies in educational institutions.
“While the situation calls for solemn reflection and collective responsibility, we would want to express dismay at the unprofessional conduct of some bloggers, who have chosen to sensationalise the tragic incident rather than uphold journalistic integrity.
“We urge all media practitioners to exercise restraint, compassion and professionalism in reporting sensitive issues, as their narratives significantly influence public perception and healing processes,” the statement added.
The palace urged the former queen and other organisers of the fanfare to remain committed to doing such laudable programmes for the children but with better plans and execution strategies in the future.
(Punch)