The Oyo State Police Command has launched an investigation into the tragic stampede that occurred during a children’s funfair in Ibadan on Wednesday, which has claimed the lives of at least 32 children.
Eyewitnesses report that the chaos ensued as participants rushed to enter the event, which was organized by Prophetess Naomi Shikemi, the ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife, and Ibadan-based broadcaster Oriyomi Hamzat.
The incident took place at the Islamic High School in Bashorun, Ibadan, where over 7,500 people attended, despite the event being planned for just 5,000. Witnesses explained that the stampede occurred as children and adults alike tried to break through the gates of the venue. “We were not even up to 5,000 participants,” said one witness, who noted that the situation became uncontrollable due to the overcrowding. Several parents also reported the tragic loss of their children in the incident, with some rushing their children to nearby hospitals.
The tragic event unfolded in the early hours of the morning, with some attendees reportedly arriving at the venue before 5 am. As the crowd grew, Agidigbo FM, a media partner for the event, used various strategies, including jingles and public service announcements, to urge people to stop going to the venue. However, the crowd continued to swell, resulting in the deadly stampede.
The station’s management, in a statement signed by Director of Programmes Olayinka Abdulwahab, clarified that Agidigbo FM was not the event’s organizer but had only assisted with promoting the event. They expressed their condolences and emphasized their efforts to alert the public about the overcrowding.
Hospital sources confirmed that some of the victims were rushed to various hospitals, including Patnas Hospital, Western Hospital, Ring Road State Hospital, Molly Specialist Hospital, and University College Hospital (UCH). At Patnas Hospital, six children were brought in, five of whom were confirmed dead. The surviving child was reported to be recuperating.
At UCH, five victims were declared dead on arrival, while several parents were seen at the hospital grieving the loss of their children. Other hospitals, such as Molly Hospital and Western Hospital, either denied having victims or had no admission records at the time of reporting.
Authorities have expressed their shock and extended sympathy to the affected families. The state’s Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, confirmed that the victims were admitted to several hospitals across the city, but details remain scarce. Efforts to reach Prophetess Naomi Shikemi for a statement were unsuccessful.
The Oyo State Police spokesperson, Adewale Osifeso, confirmed that an investigation was underway and promised to provide updates as new information became available. Meanwhile, residents and officials are calling for better crowd management at future events to prevent such tragedies.
