By: Wale Akinselure, Ademola Adegbite, Gabriel Oshokha, Bola Bamigbola and Stephen Angbulu
The Oyo State Police Command on Thursday detained a former queen of the Ooni of Ife, Prophetess Naomi Silekunola, and six others as investigation into the stampede at a funfair in Ibadan on Wednesday continues.
The police also confirmed 35 children dead, with six others sustaining varying degrees of injuries following the pandemonium.
A non-governmental organisation, Women in Need of Guidance and Support, founded by Naomi Silekunola had organised the funfair at the Islamic High School, Basorun, Ibadan on Wednesday but the event, however, turned tragic as a crowd thronged the venue, resulting in the stampede that led to the deaths.
The PUNCH learnt from multiple eyewitness accounts that several participants were trampled upon as they rushed to gain access to the venue of the event reportedly organised by Silekunola and an Ibadan-based broadcaster, Oriyomi Hamzat.
It was further gathered that while the organisers made provision for 5,000 children, over 7, 500 participants turned up for the event.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, in a statement, said, “Among those detained are Silekunola, aged 31, and Fasasi Abdulahi, the 56-year-old principal of the school.
“The other individuals arrested include Genesis Christopher, Tanimowo Moruf, Anisolaja Olabode, Idowu Ibrahim, and Abiola Oluwatimilehin, with ages ranging from 25 to 52 years.
“The stampede resulted in the tragic loss of 35 minors, with six additional children reported to be in critical condition and receiving various medical interventions.
“So far, 35 minors have been documented dead while six others are critically injured.”
Osifeso said the police command had taken significant steps in the investigation, transferring the case to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department, where the Deputy Commissioner of Police is leading the inquiry.
The PPRO assured the public that justice would be served accordingly.
“In light of the incident, the police have increased their presence in the area to maintain peace and security, while residents have been advised not to panic, as police patrols will be heightened to prevent any potential unrest.
“Residents around the area are advised not to panic as they would witness high-level patrols and visible police presence,” the statement emphasised.
The command expressed its condolences to the families affected by the tragedy.
Following aggrieved parents demand for the corpses of their children from several hospitals they were rushed to, Oyo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, said parents had been granted custody of the bodies of the victims.
He said, “To the best of our knowledge, the parents are in custody of the bodies of the victims. And in any case, many of them demanded that their corpses be released to them.”
The victims, according to Oyelade, were admitted at Patnas Hospital, Basorun; Western Hospital, Basorun; Ring Road State Hospital; Molly Specialist Hospital and University College Hospital.
SOURCE: PUNCH
