December 19, 2024
Children funfair has ended in tragedy in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on Wednesday as stampede at the venue of the event led to the death of more than 30 children.
The event was said to have been organized by Queen Naomi Silekunola — ex-wife of Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, was met to give N5,000 to 5,000 children and to make free food available to attendees, but over 7,500 children showed up at event at Basorun Islamic High School exacerbating the situation.
Eye witnesses, said as early as 5:00am, children, accompanied by parents, started converging on the Islamic High School, Basorun venue.
Multiple sources said that some children and parents had kept vigil at the venue in anticipation of the event.
It was learnt that by 6:00am, the crowd had become larger and the gate of the venue remained locked with the organizers inside the venue.
It was also gathered that the attempt to open the gate led to the stampede, as many of the people were struggling to enter at the same time.
In that instance, many people fainted, others fell, mostly children, and were trampled upon.
It was learnt that “There wouldn’t have been a problem, but because they left everyone stock. At one point, they were about to open the gate and people tried to force their way in, but immediately they tried to force the gate close, this eventually led to many people falling down as we were pushing ourselves.
“Even before they opened the gate, many people were already fainting at the gate due to the huge crowd, but things got complicated when people started falling on each other and they were marching some people.”
The dead and the injured were taken to hospitals in various parts of the city.
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Governor Seyi Makinde, he ad in a statement on his X handle, described the incident as a “disaster” and consoled families who lost their loved ones.
“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.
“While investigations are ongoing, the primary organizers of the event that led to this stampede have been taken into custody”.
Commissioner for Information Prince Dotun Oyelade who had earlier put the death toll at 32, later withdrew the statement after saying the casualty figure could only be confirmed after a full briefing by the Commissioner of Police.
Many eyewitnesses, first respondents and hospital sources said the death toll could not be fewer than 30.
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Some of the hospitals where the victims were taken are: Patnas Specialist Hospital, Oluwo Kekere, Basorun; Best Western Hospital, Basorun, Molly Specialist Hospital, Idi-Ape, Ringroad State Hospital and the University College Hospital (UCH).
At the venue of the incident, many women and children, some of who were still in shock, stood around the place. They declined to speak on the tragedy.
Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal had led some government officials to the scene and the nearby hospitals to see some of the victims.
Lawal said government was not involved in the planning or organization of the event. He assured that the state will ensure that those involved will not be spared.
Oyelade confirmed that the victims have been transported to various hospitals within the Ibadan metropolis for medical attention.
He praised the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, for activating response teams to provide assistance at the scene of the incident, assuring that the state government would stand by victims.
He restated that the government was not involved in the planning, nor was the Ministry of Health requested to support the private children’s end-of-the-year funfair.
He emphazised the importance of proper coordination when organising events of such magnitude, especially those involving children and the elderly.
The commissioner indicated that they were awaiting a report from the Commissioner of Police to know the number of victims.
The commissioner said parents were urged to check the medical facilities in Ibadan where children affected were taken for proper medical attention with valid means of identification.
