By Tonia Okereke
The former wife of the Ooni of Ife, Queen Silekunola Naomi Ogunwusi has been linked to the stampede tragedy in Ibadan the Oyo State capital.
Reports have it that about 30 children lost their lives in the deadly stampede.
Naomi who has a son with the Ife monarch is yet to speak on the tragic event which has been confirmed by the Oyo State government.
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.
The commissioner noted that victims were swiftly transported to various hospitals within the Ibadan metropolis for medical attention.
Investigation revealed that the stampede occurred as attendees, primarily children, attempted to break through the main gate of the school.
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 source many children and parents had kept vigil at the venue in anticipation of the event.
Queen Naomi who runs an NGO, ‘Women in Need of Guidance and Support” was recently seen with the Ife monarch. But she told Punch in an April 2023 interview that she has no plans of returning to the monarch. “As I have been speaking to you for the past one hour, do I look like someone who can survive in the midst of six mature and strong women? No! She is but a soft, strong, gentle woman and I can’t be a square peg in a round hole”, she was quoted as saying.
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