Ibadan funfair stampede: The event was called off as soon as the organizers arrived; beneficiaries exceeded their budget, but the people refused to leave the venue – Source
…The event was originally planned to be held at Moniya community, not Islamic High School Bashorun. We sent people away from the school when we saw they had exceeded 5000; we actually called off the event, but the people refused to leave.” – Source.
By Onome Naomi
New information has indicated that the stampede that took place at the Islamic High School Bashorun area in Ibadan was originally planned to be held at Moniya community, an outskirt and spacious community from the city center. One of the supporting organizers said, revealing how they made efforts to prevent a stampede.
The supporting organizers further narrated that:
“The incident is an unfortunate one; we mourn the little ones and condole with their families; we are also traumatized by the tragedy. This is not what we planned, but due to the media hype of the event, a lot of people came days before the event. Some of them had come to the Islamic high school a day before the event with their cooking pots and mats. They were sleeping there with their children for days so as to be beneficiaries of the charity event.”
“Our plan was to make use of the Moniya community. Moniya community is at the outskirts of the city, but it was Alhaji Hamzat who brought the idea of using the Islamic high school.”
“A day before the event, we had recorded more than the targeted number of people, including children. When we saw that the figures had exceeded 5000, we started telling the people to leave that the event had been cancelled, but they refused to leave.”
“The radio station, as we heard, made an announcement that more people should not come to the event, but by 6 am, the gate of the school was filled with people who brought their children. Serious efforts were made to stop them from entering, but they kept pushing and refused to go away. All these happened before 10 am when the event was scheduled to start.
A resident who identified herself as Toyin said, “The organizers indeed told people to leave the venue. When I got there with my sister’s child, I saw the crowd, and following the announcements that the event had been cancelled, I took the child away, but others kept pushing with their children to enter. The hype on the event was indeed much coupled with the hunger in the land and desperation; people refused to heed the warning to leave the event”.
Another organizer also said, “It is sad that Madam Naomi, who came with a good heart to alleviate the sufferings of people, is the one that is being arrested. The other suspects, including the principals and others arrested, are good people who brought help to the children and to parents, but today they are suffering for their charitable work. This will discourage others with good intentions.”
“People should know that they were not out to kill anyone but to feed, care for, and cater to the needs of people they do not even know. God will vindicate them, and the government should know that Madam Naomi and other organizers indeed are complementing the government’s efforts to bring succor to the people, especially during these hard times when feeding for many families is so difficult. Our heart goes out to the families that lost their children, and we join to mourn the departed children whom Madam Naomi came to bless.”.
It can be recalled that the Oyo State Police Command arrested eight persons in connection with the tragedy at the funfair at Islamic High School Bashorun. The arrest was contained in a statement by the command’s spokesperson, SP Osifeso Adewale, mnipr.
RE: IBADAN CHILDREN FUNFAIR TRAGEDY
1. Sequel to the stampede incident recorded on Wednesday, 18/12/2024, at the Islamic High School, Basorun, Ibadan, venue of the family event Organized by the Wings Foundation and media partners Agidigbo FM, the Oyo State Police Command wishes to inform the good people of the state that (8) persons have since been arrested for their various involvements.
2. These persons include the main event sponsor, Prophetess Naomi Silekunola, ’f,’ age 31 years; Fasasi Abdulahi, ’m,’ age 56 years (school principal, Islamic High School, Ibadan); Olowola Oluwatosin, ‘f, age 42 years; Genesis Christopher, ’m,’ age 24 years; Tanimowo Moruf,m,’ age 52 years; Anisolaja Olabode, ‘m,’ age 42 years; Idowu Ibrahim, ‘m,’ age 35 years; and Abiola Oluwatimilehin, ’m,’ age 25 years.
3. So far, thirty-five minors have been documented dead, while six others are critically injured and on various medical interventions.
4. 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.
5. So also, residents around the axis are advised not to panic as they would witness high-level patrols and visible police presence to prevent hoodlums from taking advantage of the unfortunate situation.
6. Finally, the Oyo State Police Command sympathizes 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.
7. In cases of emergency, the Command can always be reached through these numbers: OYO STATE CALL RESPONSE CENTER TOLL FREE LINE: 615
OYO STATE POLICE COMMAND CONTROL ROOM LINE(S): 08081768614, 09054133071 & 09061299291
