The Oyo State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of the wife of the Ooni of Ife, Naomi Silekunola; the Principal of Islamic High School, Ibadan, Fasasi Abdulahi; and six others in connection to the tragic death of 35 children during a stampede at a funfair in Ibadan, the state capital, on Wednesday.
Naomi who has a son with the Ooni was confirmed as the main sponsor of the event by the police.
This is as the number of children who have died from the stampede has risen to 35 while six others are critically injured, according to a statement issued on Thursday by the State Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso.
It was reported that Queen Naomi planned for to host and present 5,000 children with stipends for Christmas, but over 7,500 children showed up, exacerbating the situation.
According to a source many children and parents had kept vigil at the venue in anticipation of the event.
The state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, in a statement on Wednesday, said the stampede occurred at the private children’s funfair, held at Basorun Islamic High School.
Oyelade said the government swiftly mobilised a rapid response team following the breaking of the incident.
Osifeso said on Thursday said that the event was organised by Wings Foundation, in collaboration with an Ibadan-based radio station — Agidigbo FM, which acts as the event’s media partners.
According to the police, the other arrested individuals include Genesis Christopher, 24; Tanimowo Moruf, 52; Anisolaja Olabode, 42; Idowu Ibrahim, 35; and Abiola Oluwatimilehin, 25.
“So far, 35 minors have been documented dead while six 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,” the statement read partly.
“The Oyo State Police Command sympathises with all the families and loved ones affected by the tragedy and assures the good people of the state that justice will be served accordingly.”
Meanwhile, the management of the broadcast station owned by Hamzat, sympathised with the victims in a press release signed by its Director of Programmes, Olayinka Abdulwahab.
It said, among others, “This is to inform the general public that the management of Agidigbo FM, Ibadan received the news of the tragedy that heralded the children’s funfair at Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan, organised by the WINGS Foundation, with great shock and wholeheartedly commiserate with the families involved.
“Amidst the tragedy, the news making the rounds is that Agidigbo FM is the organiser of the children’s funfair. However, the management wishes to state that Agidigbo FM is not the organiser of the event but one of the media outfits used to promote the event.”
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