A children end of the year funfair ended in tragedy in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, yesterday.
A stampede at the venue of the event led to the death of more than 30, mostly children.
The event was organized by Women in Need of Guidance and Support, whose founder is believed to be Queen Naomi Silekunola — ex-wife of Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.
Its objective was to give N5,000 to 5,000 children and to make free food available to attendees.
As early as 5:00am, children, accompanied by parents, started converging on the Islamic High School, Basorun venue.
It was learnt that by 6:00am, the crowd had become larger and the gate of the venue remained locked with the organisers inside the venue.
It was also gathered that the attempt to open the gate led to the stampede. Many of the people are struggling to enter at the same time.
In that instance, many people fainted, others fell, mostly children, and were trampled upon.
An eyewitness, Mrs Omolewa Azeez, whose seven-year-old-year old child, Mubarak, was receiving treatment, recounted how it happened.
She said: “We got there around 6am. The issue was that they didn’t open the gate; that was what caused the problem. We were left choking and the crowd was too large.
“There wouldn’t have been a problem, but because they left everyone stock. At one point, they were about to open the gate and people tried to force their way in, but immediately they tried to force the gate close, this eventually led to many people falling down as we were pushing ourselves.
“Even before they opened the gate, many people were already fainting at the gate due to the huge crowd, but things got complicated when people started falling on each other and they were marching some people.”
The dead and the injured were taken to hospitals in various parts of the sprawling city. Governor Seyi Makinde described the incident as a “disaster” in a statement on his X handle.
Commissioner for Information Prince Dotun Oyelade put the death toll at 32. But he withdrew the statement hour after saying the casualty figure could only be confirmed after a full briefing by the Commissioner of Police.
Many eyewitnesses, first respondants and hospital sources said the death toll could not be fewer than 30.
Some of the hospitals where the victims were taken are: Patnas Specialist Hospital, Oluwo Kekere, Basorun; Best Western Hospital, Basorun, Molly Specialist Hospital, Idi-Ape, Ringroad State Hospital and the University College Hospital (UCH).
When The Nation correspondent visited the scene, it observed the place littered with nylons, bags, shoes, slippers, clothes, among others.
Many women and children, some of who were still in shock, stood around the place. They declined to speak on the tragedy.
Many of the decorations were scattered all around.
Policemen were also seated in various places under the massive canopy set up for the botched event.Police vans were also parked at various points at the entrance of the venue
When The Nation visited Patnas Specialist Hospital, Oluwo Kekere, Bashorun, Ibadan, it was gathered that four of the children brought in were dead on arrival.
While one has been discharged, the other surviving child was seen receiving medical attention.
A middle aged woman was seen crying and lamenting the loss of his seven-year-old son. Weeping uncontrollably, suspected members of the family were holding and pacifying her.
The Administrative Officer of Patnas Specialist Hospital, Mrs Oluwafemi Akinyele, confirmed that no fewer than four children were brought in dead around 8am.
She said: “If I’m not mistaken, they were brought in by a few minutes past 8; five children were brought in with four already dead, one was resuscitated. He’s a male. Four females and a male.
“The male is still in the ward. I don’t really know his condition because I was a bit agitated but he’s fine. He’s eating. I fed him and he’ll be discharged any moment.
“Six were brought in. Five were brought in at first but the Red Cross ambulance brought in one afterwards.
“Four were dead and two male. Of the two that survived, one has been discharged already but the other one is responding to treatment.
“Some parents took bodies of their kids away. When they arrived, we were told the kids fainted but, after testing them, we discovered they were brought in dead.”
A mild drama played out at the Patnas Hospital when The Nation correspondent got there.
Apparently enraged, a father of one of the affected children, who was seated in a ward with his wife, watching their son, Azeez, who had survived the incident, almost beat up his wife, blaming her for the ordeal their child went through.
But, the situation was brought under control when he was told of the number of kids who had died and how many parents were yet to locate their children.
Also, at Best Western Hospital, it was gathered among the children brought there some had died while others were receiving attention.
At Molly Specialist Hospital, VOA news gathered that none of the children was admitted as they were referred elsewhere.
A source, who pleaded anonymity at the gate, said the hospital could not admit any of the victims because it had no space in his children’s ward.
However, a parent, Olalekan Salam, said he was referred to Molly from the University College Hospital and Adeoyo Specialist Hospital when he could not find his wife and six-year-old son who attended the event.
Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal had led some government officials to the scene and the nearby hospitals to see some of the victims.
Lawal said government was not involved in the planning or organisation of the event. He assured that the state will ensure that those involved will not be spared.
Oyelade confirmed that the victims have been transported to various hospitals within the Ibadan metropolis for medical attention.
He praised the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, for activating response teams to provide assistance at the scene of the incident, assuring that the state government would stand by victims.
He restated that the government was not involved in the planning, nor was the Ministry of Health requested to support the private children’s end-of-the-year funfair.
He emphasised the importance of proper coordination when organising events of such magnitude, especially those involving children and the elderly.
The commissioner indicated that they were awaiting a report from the Commissioner of Police to know the number of victims.
The commissioner said parents were urged to check the medical facilities in Ibadan where children affected were taken for proper medical attention with valid means of identification.
Efforts to confirm the casualty figures from the Police also proved abortive as at the time of the report as calls to the Command’s spokesman, Adewale Osifeso, was not answered.
He however, sent a reply via a WhatsApp message, saying: “Investigation is in progress. Updates would be provided accordingly, please.”
Makinde in his official X handle said: “Earlier today, an incident occurred in Islamic High School, Basorun, the venue of an event organised for families. Sadly, a stampede at the venue has led to multiple loss of lives and injuries.
“This is a very sad day for us here in Oyo State. We sympathise with the parents whose joy has suddenly been turned to mourning due to these deaths.
“We have taken steps to ensure no further deaths are recorded at this venue by deploying security agents to restore order. We also deployed medical personnel and ambulances to the venue. “
“The event has been stopped, and attendees have been escorted out of the venue. We are taking all realistic measures to ensure that the venue is secured.
“While investigations are ongoing, the primary organisers of the event that led to this stampede have been taken into custody.
“I want to reassure our people that anyone directly or remotely involved in this disaster will be held accountable. Please, remain calm as the security agencies investigate this unfortunate incident.
“Our hearts remain with the families and loved ones impacted by this tragedy. May the souls of the departed rest in peace. Amen.”
