A tragic stampede at a carnival in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, has resulted in multiple fatalities.
While the exact number of casualties is yet to be confirmed, viral videos from the incident, which occurred today in the Bashorun area, revealed that some children were among the victims.
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, expressed his condolences in a statement issued shortly after the incident.
“Earlier today, an incident occurred at Islamic High School, Basorun, the venue of a family-focused event. Sadly, a stampede at the venue resulted in multiple deaths and injuries,” Makinde stated.
He described the event as a tragic day for the state and extended his sympathies to the grieving families.
“We sympathize with the parents whose joy has been turned into mourning due to these deaths.”
The governor assured the public that measures had been taken to prevent further casualties, including deploying security personnel to restore order at the site and medical teams to provide urgent care.
Arrest of Event Organizers
Governor Makinde confirmed that the organizers of the event had been arrested and would face prosecution.
“While investigations are ongoing, the primary organizers of the event that led to this stampede are in custody. Anyone found directly or indirectly responsible for this disaster will be held accountable. We urge residents to remain calm as security agencies conduct their inquiries,” he said.
He also expressed solidarity with the affected families, wishing peace for the departed souls and a speedy recovery for the injured.
Medical Response
State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, disclosed that victims had been taken to various hospitals across Ibadan for treatment.
He urged parents searching for their children to visit designated medical facilities with valid identification.
The listed facilities include:
Patnas Hospital, Basorun
Western Hospital, Basorun
Ringroad State Hospital
Molly Specialist Hospital
University College Hospital (UCH)
Efforts are ongoing to address the aftermath of the incident and provide support to those affected.