President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed profound sadness over the tragic incident at the Children’s FunFair in Ibadan, which resulted in the loss of innocent lives and left many injured.
The President extended his heartfelt condolences to the Government and people of Oyo State, as well as to the grieving families who have lost their beloved children.
This came as the Chief of staff to Oyo State Governor, Mr. Segun Ogunwuyi, disclosed that the death toll following the deadly stampede had hit 40.
“More than 40 children have been confirmed dead while other are still in critical condition,” Ogunwuyi said in Ebonyi on Thursday.
The Daily Crucible reports that Oyo State Police Command yesterday confirmed the arrest and detention of the estranged wife of the Ooni of Ife, Naomi Silekunola; the Principal of Islamic High School, Ibadan, Fasasi Abdulahi; and six others over the Wednesday Children’s Funfair tragedy in a private school, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The former Queen (Olori) of Ile – Ife was listed as the main sponsor of the event that went awry.
The Daily Crucible also reported on Thursday that dozens of children were trampled to death following the deadly Wednesday stampede that erupted as desperate parents and children struggled to surge into the venue of the funfair through a restricted entrance channel. Many others were also critically injured.
Reacting, President Tinubu, said that in this moment of mourning, he stands in solidarity with the affected families and offers prayers that the Almighty God will grant peace to the souls of those who have departed in this unfortunate event, according to Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu’s Special Adviser (Information & Strategy), in a statement on Thursday.
The statement added that President Tinubu has urgently directed the relevant authorities to investigate the circumstances of the tragedy thoroughly, emphasising that it was imperative to determine whether negligence or deliberate actions contributed to this painful incident, ensuring a transparent and accountable process.
The President urged the Oyo State Government to take every necessary measure to prevent such a tragedy from reoccurring.
“Among the essential actions are a comprehensive review of all public events’ safety measures, strict enforcement of safety regulations, and regular safety audits of event venues.
“Furthermore, President Tinubu calls on event organisers to prioritise the safety of all attendees, especially children. He stresses the importance of integrating professional security, protocol, and logistics at events to ensure the utmost safety of all participants.
“Our children’s safety and well-being remain paramount. No event should ever compromise their safety or take precedence over their lives,” President Tinubu asserts.
Meanwhile, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has comforted his ex-wife, Naomi Ogunseyi, and radio owner, Oriyomi Hamzat, not to be discouraged over the stampede at a Yuletide ceremony for children in Ibadan, Oyo State, which claimed dozens of children.
Oba Ogunwusi also pledged support for the families of the victims and called for immediate measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
The revered monarch’s reaction followed the arrest of his former Olori and eight others in connection with organizing the funfair that turned tragic.
In his statement, the Ooni expressed his deep sorrow, saying, “We extend our heartfelt sympathy to the government of Oyo State, the organisers—Agidigbo Radio, owned by Oriyomi Hamzat, and former queen at the Ooni’s Palace, Ms Naomi Silekunola Ogunseyi, as well as the bereaved families of the young souls lost in the tragic incident in Ibadan yesterday.”
He also expressed solidarity with the Oyo State government and commended the governor for his swift response.
“This tragedy underscores the urgent need for collaborative efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of our children across Nigeria. The House of Oduduwa pledges to support all efforts aimed at bringing solace and healing to those affected by this devastating loss,” he added.
The Ooni called for immediate action to improve safety measures, stressing the importance of adherence to safety standards and child welfare policies in educational institutions. He advised Naomi Ogunseyi, Oriyomi Hamzat, and other co-organisers not to be discouraged by the unfortunate outcome of the event, which was originally intended to bring joy to children during the festive season.
He concluded, “Rather than being discouraged, they should remain committed to organising such laudable programmes for children, but with better planning and strategies in the future. The lesson must be learned.”
