Unspecified number of children were said to have lost their lives in a stampede that occurred during a carnival in Ibadan, the state capital, on Wednesday.
Multiple sources put the statistics of children who reportedly perished in the stampede at over 30 while scores of others were also injured.
In a statement on Wednesday, the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, confirmed that the stampede occurred at a private children’s funfair at Basorun Islamic High School.
Oyelade stated that the government swiftly mobilised a rapid response team when the the incident broke, and lauded
his counterpart in the health ministry, Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, for promptly activating all response teams to assist at the scene.
Oyelade said, “The state government will do all it can to support the victims of this tragic incident during this difficult period.
“The government was not involved in any planning, nor was the Ministry of Health asked to provide logistics for the private children’s end-of-year funfair.”
Oyelade, however, advised parents who are worried about the whereabouts of their children to check some identified medical facilities in Ibadan, where affected children were taken to for proper medical care.
“Parents who are concerned about the whereabouts of their children are urged to check the following medical facilities in Ibadan, where affected children have been taken for proper medical care, with valid means of identification:
Patnas Hospital, Basorun; Western Hospital, Basorun; Ringroad State Hospital; Molly Specialist Hospital; and the University College Hospital, Ibadan,” Oyelade said.
