Stampede at Ibadan Funfair Claims Lives of 32 Children; Police Launch Investigation

• Overcrowding at Event Organized by Ex-Ooni’s Wife Blamed for Tragedy

The Oyo State Police Command has commenced an investigation into the tragic deaths of 32 children during a stampede at a funfair held in Ibadan on Wednesday. The event, reportedly organized by Prophetess Naomi Shikemi, the ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife, and broadcaster Oriyomi Hamzat, spiraled into chaos when thousands of attendees overwhelmed the venue.

Eyewitness accounts revealed that the stampede occurred as the crowd surged to access the venue, which was initially prepared to accommodate 5,000 children. However, over 7,500 participants reportedly showed up, leading to a catastrophic lack of crowd control.

“The situation became rowdy because there were more people than anticipated,” said an eyewitness in a video circulating online. Another parent, grieving the loss of his child, accused the organizers of negligence and failing to manage the overwhelming turnout.

Rowdy scenes captured in videos showed panicked children being carried out of the venue while distraught parents mourned their losses. Hospitals in Ibadan, including the University College Hospital (UCH), were inundated with victims. The Public Relations Officer of UCH confirmed that five children were brought in dead, while other hospitals reported similar fatalities.

In a statement, Agidigbo FM, owned by Oriyomi Hamzat, distanced itself from the organization of the event, claiming its role was limited to media promotion. “We were not the organizers of the funfair but merely a media partner. When we realized the venue was overcrowded, we used public service announcements to discourage more people from attending,” said Olayinka Abdulwahab, Director of Programmes.

Efforts to reach Prophetess Naomi Shikemi for a comment were unsuccessful as her phone line was unreachable, and messages sent to her remained unanswered.

Oyo State’s Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, listed the hospitals treating victims, adding that the government was monitoring the situation closely. Meanwhile, grieving parents called on authorities to ensure the timely release of their children’s bodies.

The Oyo State Police Command has assured the public that a thorough investigation is underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. “Updates will be provided as the investigation progresses,” said the police spokesperson, Adewale Osifeso.

This tragedy has left Ibadan in mourning, with calls growing louder for stricter crowd control measures at public events to prevent such a devastating recurrence.