The Oyo State Police Command has disclosed the arrest of the ex-queen of the Ooni of Ife, Naomi Silekunola; the Principal of Islamic High School, Ibadan, Fasasi Abdulahi; and six others in connection to the death of some children during a stampede at a funfair in Ibadan, the state capital, on Wednesday.
The ex-queen was named as the main sponsor of the event.
More so, the number of children who have died from the stampede has risen to 35 while six others are critically injured, according to a statement issued on Thursday by the State Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso.
The event which was held at the Islamic High School, Basorun, Ibadan, was made available to 5,000 children but the number that turned up was reportedly over 7, 500, according to investigations by PUNCH Metro.
Osifeso noted 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.
According to the police, the other arrested individuals include Genesis Christopher, 24; Tanimowo Moruf, 52; Anisolaja Olabode, 42; Idowu Ibrahim, 35; and Abiola Oluwatimilehin, 25.
“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,” the statement read partly.
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.”
Multiple eyewitness accounts indicated that 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.”
