Police in Oyo have arrested ex-queen of the Ooni of Ife, Naomi Silekunola; the Principal of Islamic High School, Ibadan, Fasasi Abdulahi; and six others in connection with the death of some children during a stampede at a funfair in Ibadan, the state capital, on Wednesday.
Naomi was named as the main sponsor of the event.
This is just as the number of children who have died from the stampede rose to 35 with six others critically injured.
A statement on Thursday by the State Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, disclosed this.
It was gathered that the event held at the Islamic High School, Basorun, Ibadan, was originally planned for 5,000 children but over 7500 reportedly turned up.
The PPRO stated that the event was organised by Wings Foundation, in collaboration with an Ibadan-based radio station — Agidigbo FM, which acts as the event’s media partners.
Police said the other arrested individuals include Genesis Christopher, 24; Tanimowo Moruf, 52; Anisolaja Olabode, 42; Idowu Ibrahim, 35; and Abiola Oluwatimilehin, 25.
The statement partly read, “So far, 35 minors have been documented dead while six others are critically injured and on various medical interventions.
“In furtherance of the above, the case has since been transferred to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku, with the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge leading the investigations.”
But the police assured residents around the axis of “high-level patrols” and the presence of its operatives “to prevent hoodlums from taking advantage of the unfortunate situation.
“The Oyo State Police Command sympathises with all the families and loved ones affected by the tragedy and assures the good people of the state that justice will be served accordingly.”
According to eyewitnesses, the stampede occurred when participants rushed to gain access to the event’s venue organised by Silekunola and a broadcaster with the Agidigbo FM, Oriyomi Hamzat.
An eyewitness at the scene of the event, who craved anonymity, said in a video, “Oriyomi Hamzat said he wanted 5,000 participants but because we were not organised, that was why the situation got to this. We were not even up to 5,000 participants.”
“Rather than attend to us very well, they wanted to fight us. We just lost one child who has been taken to the University College Hospital,” said another participant (names withheld) who claimed to have lost a child.
An Administrative Officer of Patnas Hospital, Basorun, where some of the victims were admitted, Olufeyemi Tolulope, stated, “The affected children were brought in some minutes past 8 am. Six children were brought into the hospital out of which five died while the other one is recuperating.
“We were told that the deceased fainted at the venue of the event. We were able to rescue one while the remaining five died. The surviving child has been discharged and released to her parents.
“One of the parents of the deceased, who was sighted at the hospital premises wailing, said, “I did not bargain for what happened to me. We slept together at home yesterday (Tuesday) not knowing that it would be the last time. My daughter is not dead. Please doctor wake her up.”
Agidigbo FM reacts
The management of the broadcast station owned by Hamzat, sympathised with the victims in a statement signed by its Director of Programmes, Olayinka Abdulwahab.
While it explicitly noted that it was a media partner to the event and not the organiser of the funfair, the management made frantic moves to sensitise the participants when it realised that the venue was crowded.
It said, among others, “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.”
Oyo govt reacts
The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, in a tweet via his X handle on Wednesday, sympathised with the parents of the deceased.
The governor stated, “We have taken steps to ensure no further deaths are recorded at this venue by deploying security agents to restore order at the venue.
“We also deployed medical personnel and ambulances to the venue. The event has been stopped, and attendees have been escorted out of the venue. We are taking all realistic measures to ensure that the venue is secured.
