IBADAN: The Oyo State Police Command has launched an investigation into the tragic incident that led to the deaths of 32 children during a stampede at a funfair in Ibadan, the state capital, on Wednesday.
The stampede reportedly occurred as attendees rushed to enter the event, which was allegedly organized by Prophetess Naomi Shikemi, the ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife, and Ibadan-based broadcaster Oriyomi Hamzat.
Eyewitness accounts reveal that the stampede took place at the Islamic High School in Bashorun, Ibadan, when the crowd became uncontrollable as participants tried to break through the main gate of the school. The event had been planned with provisions for 5,000 children, but over 7,500 children and their families reportedly attended, overwhelming the organizers and leading to chaos.
In a video captured by an eyewitness at the scene, who wished to remain anonymous, the situation was described as having spiraled out of control. The eyewitness explained, Oriyomi Hamzat had requested for 5,000 participants, but because we weren’t well organized, things quickly got out of hand, and the situation led to the stampede.
Another participant shared his sorrow, revealing that he lost his child during the stampede. Rather than helping us, they seemed more interested in fighting us. We lost one child, who has since been taken to the University College Hospital,” he said, visibly distraught.
The video showed disturbing scenes of children being rushed out of the venue, with one woman wailing over the loss of her child. The chaotic aftermath of the event left many in distress, as parents frantically searched for their children and sought medical help.
Pictures of prophetess Naomi and the ex-husband, the Ooni of Ife
In response to the tragedy, Agidigbo FM, owned by Oriyomi Hamzat, expressed its condolences to the victims’ families through a statement issued by its Director of Programmes, Olayinka Abdulwahab. The statement clarified that Agidigbo FM was only a media partner for the event and was not responsible for its organization.
Abdulwahab stated, We deeply regret the tragedy and sympathize with the affected families. However, it is important to clarify that Agidigbo FM was not the event organizer but a media partner. Upon learning of the overcrowded venue, we took immediate steps to warn the public through jingles and announcements to discourage further attendance.
The management also condemned misinformation circulating about their role in the tragedy, urging the public to focus on prayers for the victims’ recovery and to avoid spreading false narratives.
The Oyo State Police spokesperson, Adewale Osifeso, confirmed the incident and stated that investigations were underway, promising updates as the investigation progresses. Investigation is in progress. Updates will be provided accordingly,” Osifeso said in a text message.
Reports from various hospitals indicate that several victims were rushed to medical facilities across Ibadan, including Patnas Hospital, Western Hospital, Ring Road State Hospital, Molly Specialist Hospital, and the University College Hospital (UCH). At Patnas Hospital, an administrative officer, Olufeyemi Tolulope, confirmed that six children were brought to the hospital, of which five were declared dead and one was recovering.
The children were brought to the hospital shortly after 8 am. Unfortunately, five passed away, and one is recuperating. The surviving child has been discharged, Tolulope reported.
At UCH, five of the victims were confirmed dead, according to the hospital’s Public Relations Officer, Funmi Adetuyibi. However, she did not disclose the victims ages or genders, noting that none of the children remained in the hospital for treatment.
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Meanwhile, other hospitals, including Molly Specialist Hospital and Western Hospital, denied having any of the victims in their care when approached by reporters.
At the University College Hospital, anguished parents were seen mourning the deaths of their children, with one parent lamenting, “I never imagined this would happen. My daughter was supposed to come back home. This is the last time we slept together.
The tragedy has also sparked calls from parents for the release of the bodies of their deceased children from the hospitals, with some parents speaking anonymously about the ordeal.
Despite efforts to reach Prophetess Naomi Shikemi, one of the event organizers, for comment, her phone number was unavailable, and she did not respond to text messages by the time of this report.
The incident has raised serious concerns about the safety measures in place at large public events and the need for better crowd management strategies, especially when organizing gatherings for children. As the investigation continues, the people of Ibadan and the nation await further updates on the findings and accountability for this heartbreaking incident.
