Ibadan funfair stampede claims lives…here’s what to know
Photo credit: Google
A stampede at Ibadan High School Basorun has claimed lots of life at the recently held children’s funfair.
The ex- wife of Ooni, queen Naomi Silekunola Ogunwusi, the founder of Women in Need of Guidance and Support (WINGS) organized a Christmas party for 5000 children, but the turn up was higher than expected as about 7500 persons were in attendance resulting to a stampede.
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PUNCH Metro reports that the victims were stampeded to death while trying to break through the main gate of the school.
Seyi Makinde, the governor of Oyo, took to his Twitter (X) channel to confirm the incident. He said:
“Earlier today, an incident occurred in Islamic High School Basorun, the venue of an event organised for families. Sadly, a stampede at the venue has led to multiple loss of lives and injuries. This is a very sad day for us here in Oyo State”
He sympathized with the parents of the victims whose life were lost and promised that all behind the incident will be brought to book.
X users commented on the post and asked if the queen would also be among the people that would be brought to book.
Foundation for investigative journalism reports that in a now deleted post on twitter, a user tweeted “They organised a Christmas party for children, and they said they would be going home with freebies. Our people went there since yesterday to sleep over, and they are stepping on each other till so many people lost their lives.”
In a video making round, some eye witnesses has voiced their opinion on the situation. Punchng reports that one of the witnesses said that the organizers wanted 5,000 participants but because they weren’t organised, the situation resulted to a stampede . In her words ” we were not even up to 5,000 participants.”
Another user also said, “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.”
In a developing event, some people has roped in Agidigbo FM accusing them of having a hand on the event. But founder of the radio station Oriyomi Hamzat, came out and cleared the air.
He said they were just a media outlet partner employed to create jingle and awareness for the program. One of the staff says, “She came to Agidigbo to announce that the event would be held at Islamic High School, Basorun. She came for a jingle placement. What we noticed was the stampede. Now the event has been cancelled,”
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Police command says it is investigating the circumstances surrounding the alleged death of 32 children at the children party.
However all attempts to reach the queen both through call and texts proved abortive
What to know about the states of the children, victims of the stampede
The Oyo State commissioner for information ,Mr Oyelade said the victims were swiftly transported to various hospitals within the Ibadan metropolis for medical attention Premium Times reports.
The hospitals were the children were taken to includes:
Patnas Hospital,
Western Hospital, Basorun
Ringroad State Hospital
Molly Specialist Hospital
University College Hospital (UCH)
Also, most of the children were already dead before they were taken to the hospital. This was made known by an Administrative Officer of Patnas Hospital, Basorun, Olufeyemi Tolulope, who said , “The affected children were brought in some minutes past 8am. Six children were brought into the hospital out of which five died while the other one is recuperating.
