Tragedy Strikes at Ibadan Children's Funfair, Organisers Arrested

Our reporter

The organisers of a children’s funfair, where a deadly stampede claimed the lives of several children on Wednesday, December 18, at Islamic High School, Basorun, Ibadan, have been taken into custody. The incident occurred at a family-oriented event organised to celebrate the holidays, but it quickly turned into a tragedy when the crowd surged uncontrollably, leading to multiple fatalities and injuries.

 

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, confirmed the arrest of the event organisers in a statement shared on his social media platform. He expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and extended his condolences to the families affected by the incident. Governor Makinde stated that security measures had been swiftly implemented at the scene to prevent further casualties and restore order.

 

"This is a very sad day for Oyo State," the governor wrote. "We are deeply sorry for the families who have lost their loved ones in this tragic event. Our thoughts and prayers are with them."

 

The governor assured the public that the event had been immediately halted, with security forces deployed to manage the situation. Emergency medical teams were also dispatched to the scene to provide urgent care to the injured, while attendees were escorted safely out of the venue.

 

He also gave a firm warning that those responsible for the disaster would be held accountable. "We will ensure that those who were involved, either directly or indirectly, in this tragic incident face the full consequences of their actions," Makinde stated. "We are committed to a thorough investigation, and I urge everyone to remain calm as we work to get to the bottom of this."

 

While the government did not release the names of the organisers, local reports indicate that the event was organised by Queen Naomi Silekunola Ogunwusi, the former wife of the Ooni of Ife, in partnership with Agidigbo 88.7 FM, a radio station owned by Oriyomi Hamzat. The radio station had publicised the event on December 17, inviting families to bring their children to the free funfair.

 

However, the turnout far exceeded expectations, and overcrowding reportedly contributed to the deadly stampede. The event’s location, which was not equipped to handle such a large number of attendees, became chaotic when children and their families rushed to enter.

 

The tragic incident has shocked the local community, and authorities have vowed to enforce stricter safety regulations for public events in the future to prevent a recurrence of such a disaster. As investigations continue, the people of Oyo State are left grappling with the aftermath of an event that was meant to bring joy but instead turned into a heartbreaking tragedy.

 

The state government has urged residents to remain patient and allow the investigation to proceed, while offering continued support to the families affected.