THE Oyo State Police Command has launched an investigation into the alleged deaths of 32 children during a stampede at a carnival held in Ibadan, the state capital, yesterday.
Eyewitness accounts reported that the stampede occurred as attendees rushed to enter the venue, which was reportedly organized by Prophetess Naomi Shikemi, the ex-queen of the Ooni of Ife, and Oriyomi Hamzat, an Ibadan-based broadcaster.
Further investigations revealed that the victims were trampled while attempting to force their way through the main gate of the school where the event was held. Although the event was planned for 5,000 children, over 7,500 reportedly showed up, leading to overcrowding.
In a video account, an unnamed eyewitness explained that the disorganization contributed to the tragedy.
She noted that although the invitation was for 5,000 participants, the situation spiraled out of control as the crowd surged.
Another participant claimed to have lost a child during the incident, expressing frustration over the handling of the situation.
Footage from the scene showed chaotic moments, with children being rushed out of the venue and a woman crying over the loss of her child.
Reacting to the tragedy, the management of Agidigbo FM, owned by Oriyomi Hamzat, issued a statement expressing sympathy for the victims.
The station clarified that it was only a media partner for the event and not the organizer.
According to the Director of Programmes, Olayinka Abdulwahab, the station had attempted to inform the public to avoid the venue once the overcrowding became apparent.
The statement read in part: “Agidigbo FM is not the organizer of the event but one of the media platforms used for promotion. Upon realizing the crowd exceeded capacity, we made public service announcements urging people to stay away. We sympathize with the victims and pray for the recovery of those injured.”
The Oyo State Police Command spokesperson, Adewale Osifeso, confirmed the incident and stated that investigations were ongoing.
Some parents and their children were reported to have arrived at the venue early and even stayed overnight. The resulting crowd caused significant traffic on the Basorun-Idi Ape Road.
At Patnas Hospital, an administrative officer, Olufeyemi Tolulope, disclosed that six children were brought in, five of whom died, while the sixth child was treated and discharged. A grieving parent at the hospital lamented the loss of her daughter, expressing disbelief at her death.
Parents of deceased children have called on the government to assist in retrieving the bodies from the hospitals.
The victims were admitted to multiple hospitals, including Patnas Hospital, Western Hospital, Ring Road State Hospital, Molly Specialist Hospital, and the University College Hospital (UCH).
At UCH, the hospital’s Public Relations Officer, Funmi Adetuyibi, confirmed that five victims were brought in dead, though their ages and genders were not disclosed.
Similarly, reports from Molly Hospital and other facilities indicated that some victims were declared dead on arrival.
Attempts to reach Prophetess Naomi Shikemi for comments were unsuccessful, as her phone was unreachable and she did not respond to messages.