NIGERIA:FEATURE: Everything You Need to Know About The Ibadan Funfair Stampede

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria

The city of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, was thrown into mourning after the state police on Thursday confirmed the death of 35 minors from a stampede that occurred at a children’s funfair on Wednesday at Bashorun Islamic High School, Ibadan, Oyo State.

The event, organised by a non-governmental organisation, Women in Need of Governance and Support (WINGS) – an initiative by the former wife of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi – resulted in fatalities, leaving 35 dead and six seriously injured.

It was learned that the stampede occurred while children and parents struggled to get gift items offered by the foundation.

The rush and impatience of the funfair attendees caused violent pushes, leading to the tragic incident.

On Thursday, the Oyo State Police confirmed the deaths of the victims, while six others were severely injured and are undergoing medical intervention.

Parents Recount Their Ordeal

African Culture TV gathered that the stampede resulted from uncontrollable crowding.

It was learned that the organisers of the event made provisions for 5,000 children, but over 7,500 participants turned up.

It was further gathered that some children and their parents reportedly kept vigil at the venue.

The crowd was so large that it caused gridlock on the Bashorun-Idi Ape Road before the stampede.

Parents of some children who survived narrated their traumatic experiences.

As reported by The Punch, a survivor, who identified herself as Iya Ayomide, shared her account:

“Honestly, I regret my actions, and I will never do that again in my life. I made that decision late on Tuesday night. I was staying at Agbowo in the Ibadan North Local Government Area of the state.

“A co-tenant approached me that night and suggested we attend the event the following day (Wednesday). I informed my husband, who permitted me to go with our children.

“I left home a few minutes after 5 a.m. with my two children. One is three and a half years old, and the other is seven years old.

“We got there around 5:40 a.m. By then, the whole area was tense. The turnout was massive. The organizers locked the gate and prevented everyone from gaining access to the venue.

“Shortly after, Oriyomi Hamzat arrived and ordered that the gate be opened so people could enter. But because we were not patient enough, everyone tried to enter at the same time, resulting in the stampede.

“For almost five minutes, I couldn’t see my daughter. About five people had already covered her, trampling on her. They trampled on me as well. I managed to locate her and started biting people one after the other to free her.

“As I rescued her, someone took her from me and rushed her to the ambulance, where they gave her first aid. She is recovering very fast now. The other child is hale and hearty,” she narrated.

Agidigbo FM Chairman Unconscious

The owner of Agidigbo FM and a prominent media personality in Ibadan, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat, is reported to be unconscious due to the shock of the incident.

The radio station, which was the official media partner of the funfair, reportedly made several efforts to discourage more people from coming to the venue due to overcrowding, but these efforts were unsuccessful.

After the police confirmed the children’s deaths, sources revealed that Oriyomi Hamzat collapsed upon learning of the tragedy. He is currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in Ibadan.

An anonymous insider close to Hamzat disclosed, “He could not handle the shock and passed out. He is now under medical care, and we are praying for his recovery.”

Police Arrests and Investigations

The Oyo State Police Command, through its Public Relations Officer, SP Adewale Osifeso, confirmed the arrest of eight individuals in connection with the stampede.

Among those detained are the event sponsor, Prophetess Naomi Silekunola, the school principal, Fasasi Abdulahi, and other individuals linked to the event.

In his statement, SP Osifeso said the case had been transferred to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Iyaganku, with the Deputy Commissioner of Police leading the investigation.

The Police PRO urged residents to remain calm, assuring them of heightened patrols to prevent mobs from exploiting the situation.

The statement reads:”Residents around the axis are advised not to panic as they will witness high-level patrols and visible police presence to prevent hoodlums from taking advantage of the unfortunate situation.”

The command also expressed its condolences to the victims’ families and assured the public that justice would be served.

In response to parents demanding the release of their children’s corpses from several hospitals, Oyo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, stated that parents had been granted custody of the bodies.

President Tinubu Reacts

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, through his spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, ordered concerned agencies to carry out a thorough investigation and extended his condolences to the victims’ families.

“It is imperative to determine whether negligence or deliberate actions contributed to this painful incident,” the President said.

He directed the Oyo State Government to review safety protocols at public events, enforce stricter regulations, and conduct routine audits of event venues to prevent future occurrences.

Other Reactions

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also shared his condolences with the victims’ families.

In a post on X, Atiku expressed his heartbreak over the tragedy and prayed for God to comfort the families and heal the injured.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost their beautiful flowers so early in life. May the souls of the departed rest in peace,” he wrote.