The Governor of Oyo State, Mr Oluseyi Makinde, has said that the organizers of the Children’s Funfair that led to the death of 35 innocent children in a stampede on December 18, 2024, will face trial.
He stated this during the annual interfaith service to herald the year 2025, held at the car park of the Governor’s Office Secretariat in Ibadan the state capital.
The organizers included an ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife, Prophetess Naomi Silekunola Ogunseyi; the owner of Agidigbo FM, Oriyomi Hamzat; and the Principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan, Fasasi Abdullahi Babatunde
They are remanded at the Agodi Custodial Centre on the orders of a court.
But Makinde said that he had been receiving calls from different people questioning why the organizers should not be allowed to go free.
He said, ”Quite a number of people have been reaching out to me, saying this thing happened in Anambra State and FCT, nobody went to jail.
“Why is it in Oyo State that some people are going to jail? I told them that Oyo State is not Anambra State, and no matter how highly placed you are, justice must be done.
“The judiciary is here. It is in their court. If you think they can be granted bail pending the trial, I don’t have anything against it, but the people must face trial”.
Recall that the Oyo State Police Command confirmed that 35 children died in the Ibadan Children Christmas Funfair tragedy that occured and six others were injured, and eight persons have been arrested in connection with the unfortunate incident.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Adewale Osifeso, disclosed these in a release.
Many children were crushed to death during a stampede that occured as the event was about taking off at the Islamic High School, Basorun, Ibadan.
Oyefeso, stated in the release titled ‘Re: Ibadan Children Tragedy’, that the case has been transferred to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Iyaganku for further investigation.
The police PRO said that among the eight people arrested were the main organizers, a former wife of the Ooni of Ife, Olori Naomi Silekunola, and the principal of the school, Fasasi Abdullahi.
“Sequel to the stampede incident recorded on Wednesday 18/12/2024 at the Islamic High School, Basorun, Ibadan venue of the family event organized by Wings Foundation and media partners, Agidigbo FM, the Oyo State Police Command wishes to inform the good people of the state that eight (8) persons have since been arrested for their various involvements.
“These persons include the main event sponsor, Prophetess Naomi Silekunola ’f’ age 31; Fasasi Abdulahi, ’m’ age 56yrs (School Principal Islamic High School, Ibadan); Genesis Christopher, ’m’ age 24yrs; Tanimowo Moruf, ’m’ age 52yrs; Anisolaja Olabode, ‘m’ age 42yrs; Idowu Ibrahim, ‘m’ age 35yrs; and Abiola Oluwatimilehin, ’m’ age 25yrs.
“So far thirty-five (35) minors have been documented dead, while six (6) others are critically injured and on various medical interventions.
“In furtherance of the above, the case has since been transferred to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku, with the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge leading the investigations.”
In another tragedy few days later, the Police in Anambra State confirmed that 22 people were killed during a stampede in Okija, a community in Ihiala Local Government Area of the state.
Tochukwu Ikenga, the police spokesperson in Anambra State, disclosed this in a statement
The event was organized by the Obijackson Foundation, founded by an entrepreneur, Ernest Obiejesi, popularly known as Obijackson.
In a similar stampede that occurred at a church in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, no fewer than 10 people were confirmed dead in the stampede during the sharing of rice.