New information has indicated that the stampede that took place at the Islamic High school Bashorun area in Ibadan was originally planned to hold at Moniya community an outskirt and spacious community from the city centre. One of the supporting workers to the organisers who requested anonymity while revealing how they made efforts to prevent a stampede said
” This incident is very sad and we mourn the little ones and condole with the families. We are equally traumatized by the tragedy. This is not what we planned. But due to the media hype of the event, alot of people came days before the event. Some of them had come to the islamic High school a day before the event with thier cooking pots and mats and they were sleeping there with thier children so as to be part of event . Our plan was to make use of Moniya community. You know that Moniya community is at the outskirt of the city but it was Alhaji Hamzat that brought the idea of using the islamic High school. A day before the event, we had recorded about more than the targeted number of people 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 announcement that more people should not come to the event but by 6am, the gate of the school was filled with people who brought thier children. Serious efforts were made to stop them from entering but they kept pushing and refused to go away. All these happened before 10m when the 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 has been cancelled, I took the child away but others kept pushing with thier children to enter. The hype on the event was indeed much coupled with the hunger in the land and desperation , people refused to heed to the warning to leave the event”.
Another support worker to the organizers who preferred not to be names 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 thier charitable work. This will discourage others with good intentions. People should know that they were not out to kill anyone but to feed, care and cater to the needs of people they do not even know . God will vindicate them and government should know that madam Naomi and other organizers indeed are complementing the government’s efforts to bring succour to the people especially during this hard times where feeding for many families is so difficult. Our heart goes out to the families that lost thier 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. Tilted
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 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 31yrs, Fasasi Abdulahi, ’m’ age 56yrs (School Principal Islamic High School, Ibadan), Olowola Oluwatosin ‘f’ ,age 42yrs, Genesis Christopher, ’m’ age 24yrs, Tanimowo Moruf,’m’ age 52yrs, Anisolaja Olabode, ‘m’ age 42yrs, Idowu Ibrahim, ‘m’ age 35yrs and Abiola Oluwatimilehin, ’m’ age 25yrs.
3. So far (35) Thirty-Five Minors have been documented Dead while (6) 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
E-SIGNED
SP OSIFESO ADEWALE, mnipr
POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,
FOR: COMMISSIONER OF POLICE,
OYO STATE COMMAND.
