The Oyo State Government has expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives following a tragic stampede at a children’s funfair in Ibadan.
The incident happened on Wednesday morning at Basorun Islamic High School during a food funfair organized by Naomi Silekunola, the ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife.
The event, meant for 5,000 beneficiaries, turned chaotic as the crowd overwhelmed the venue, leading to a stampede.
Several children lost their lives, and many others were injured. Eyewitnesses said the chaos began at the venue’s entrance, where the large number of attendees caused confusion.
In a statement, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, confirmed that the state’s rapid response team was immediately deployed to the scene. Victims were rushed to various hospitals across Ibadan for urgent medical care.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, was praised for mobilizing medical response teams to handle the situation. Prince Oyelade clarified that the government was not involved in planning the private event and emphasized the need for proper safety measures at gatherings involving children.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families affected by this tragic incident,” Oyelade said. “We assure them of our support during this difficult time and call for calm as investigations continue.”
At Patnas Specialist Hospital, an official, Olufemi Akinyele, confirmed that six children were brought in. Sadly, five were already dead on arrival, while one was saved.
One parent, Iya Ayo, whose child was among the victims, expressed regret for allowing her ward to attend the event.
As of this report, the bodies of four deceased children at Patnas Hospital had not been claimed.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, said investigations are ongoing. Meanwhile, parents searching for their children are advised to visit the following hospitals with valid identification:
Patnas Specialist Hospital, Basorun
Western Hospital, Basorun
Ringroad State Hospital
Molly Specialist Hospital
University College Hospital
The government reaffirmed its commitment to residents’ safety and called on event organizers to prioritize crowd control and safety measures in the future.
