Scores of people, predominantly children, lost their lives, while many others sustained varying degrees of injuries during a children’s funfair party on Wednesday at the Islamic High School, Basorun, Ibadan.
The event, organized by Queen Naomi Silekunola, an ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife, was promoted by an Ibadan-based radio station, Agidigbo FM. It was aimed at benefitting 5,000 children with promises of N5,000 cash gifts and free meals.
However, chaos ensued as over 15,000 people stormed the venue before dawn, far exceeding the planned capacity. The incident occurred when parents, desperate to gain access for their children, caused a stampede at the entrance.
Sources revealed that the situation spiraled out of control around 6 a.m. when the organizers announced that the 5,000-attendee limit had been reached. In response, the agitated crowd surged forward, leading to a deadly stampede that left many children dead on the spot and others injured.
Victims were rushed to nearby hospitals, including Patnas Specialist Hospital, Best Western Hospital, Molly Specialist Hospital, Ringroad State Hospital, and the University College Hospital (UCH), all in Ibadan.
At Patnas Specialist Hospital, four children were confirmed dead on arrival, while one survivor remained in critical condition as of Wednesday morning.
The chaotic scene also disrupted traffic along the Basorun axis, with thousands of attendees, mainly women and children, seen walking long distances. A distraught mother was spotted wailing after losing her 7-year-old son in the tragedy.
When reporters visited the venue, personal items such as shoes, slippers, bags, and clothing were scattered across the area, indicating the chaos. Police officers and patrol vans were stationed at various points, while the venue remained in disarray, with decorations strewn on the ground.
Despite the event being called off, small groups of women and children lingered around the school premises, refusing to speak to reporters for fear of arrest.
Mrs. Oluwafemi Akinyele, the Admin Officer of Patnas Specialist Hospital, confirmed the deaths, expressing sorrow over the tragedy. The incident has sparked widespread mourning and calls for better crowd management at such large-scale events.
She said: “If I’m not mistaken, they were brought in by few minutes past 8, they were brought in numbers of 5, 4 dead immediately, one was resuscitate back. He’s a male. Four females and a male.
“The male is still in the ward currently. I don’t really know his condition because I was a bit agitated but he’s fine. He’s eating. I fed him myself and he’ll be discharged any moment from now.
“Six were brought in here so far. Five were brought in at first but the Red Cross ambulance brought in 1 afterwards.
“Four were dead and 2 males. Out of the two that survived, one has been discharged already but the other one is responding to treatment.
“Some parents took their dead kids away. When they arrived, we were told the kids fainted but, after testing them, we discovered they were brought in dead.”
A mild drama played out at the Patnas Hospital when newsmen visited to see the affected children.
Apparently enraged, Mr Azeez, a father of one of the affected children who was seated in a ward with his wife, watching their son, Azeez who had survived the incident, was almost slapping the wife and beating her while he tried to recount his ordeal as caused by his wife.
But, the situation was brought under control when he was told of the number of kids who had died and how many parents were yet to locate their children.
When the aituation simmer, speaking with The Nation in an interview, Mrs Azeez Omolewa whose 7 year old son, Mubarak, was receiving treatment said the situation could have been saved if the organisers had not allowed people stockpile at the entrance gate for too long.
She said “We got there around 6AM this morning. The issue was that they didn’t open the gate, that was what caused the problem. We were left choking and the crowd was too much.
“There wouldn’t have been problem, but because they left everyone stocked together. At a point, they were about to open the gate and people tried to force their way in, but immediate they tried to forced the gate close which eventually led to many people falling down as we were pushing ourselves.
“Even before they opened the gate, many people were already fainting at the gate due to to huge crowd, but things got complicated when people started falling on each other and they were marching some people.”
Also, at Best Western Hospital, Ibadan, it was gathered that some children who were brought it had died before arrival while some others were receiving attention.
At Molly Specialist Hospital, it was gathered that none of the children brought in were admitted as they were referred elsewhere.
A source who pleaded anonymity at the entrance gate said, the hospital could not admit any of the victim because it had no space in his children ward as at the time of the incident.
However, a parent, Olalekan Salam who arrived at the rime of the visit said he was referred to Molly from the University College Hospital and the Adeoyo Specialist Hospital after he could not find his wife and six years old son who left the house to attend the funfair.
Speaking on the development, Governor Seyi Makinde described the day as a sad day for the state due to the multiple loss of lives and injuries.
He said the state has taken steps to ensure no further deaths are recorded at the venue by deploying security agents to restore order at the venue.
Makinde said “Earlier today, an incident occurred in Islamic High School Basorun, the venue of an event organised for families. Sadly, a stampede at the venue has led to multiple loss of lives and injuries.
“This is a very sad day for us here in Oyo State. We sympathise with the parents whose joy has suddenly been turned to mourning due to these deaths.
“We have taken steps to ensure no further deaths are recorded at this venue by deploying security agents to restore order at the venue. We also deployed medical personnel and ambulances to the venue.
“The event has been stopped, and attendees have been escorted out of the venue. We are taking all realistic measures to ensure that the venue is secured.
“While investigations are ongoing, the primary organisers of the event that led to this stampede have been taken into custody.
“I want to reassure our people that anyone directly or remotely involved in this disaster will be held accountable. Please remain calm as the security agencies investigate this unfortunate incident.
“Our hearts remain with the families and loved ones impacted by this tragedy. May the souls of the departed rest in peace. Amen.”
Earlier, the State Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal had led some government officials to the scene of the incident and the nearby hospitals to see some of the victims.
The deputy had stressed that the government was not involved in the planning or organising of the event in any way while assuring that the state will ensure that those involved will not be spared.
Also, worried by the development, the state government while mourning the tragic loss swiftly mobilised a rapid response team following the breaking of the incident.
Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade confirmed that the victims have been swiftly transported to various hospitals within the Ibadan metropolis for medical attention.
He appreciated the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, for immediately activating all available response teams to provide assistance at the scene of the incident, assuring that the state government will do all in its power to stand by victims of the fateful incident through this trying period.
He noted that the state government was not involved in any of the planning, neither was the Ministry of Health requested to provide any logistics to support the private children’s end of the year funfair.
It emphasized the importance of proper coordination when organizing events of such magnitude, especially those involving children and elders.
The Commissioner indicated that they are currently awaiting a detailed report from the Commissioner of Police to clarify the total number of victims involved in the unfortunate incident.
The commissioner said parents who are concerned about the whereabouts of their children are urged to check the medical facilities in Ibadan where children affected were taken for proper medical attention with valid means of identification.
When contacted, the spokesman, Oyo State Police Command, Adewale Osifeso, said: “investigation is in progress. Updates would be provided accordingly, please.”
The Nation
