Queen Naomi Silekunola Ogunwusi
Death toll in Ibadan stampede hits 35, as ex-Ooni queen arrested
Death toll in the stampede of the holiday funfair in Ibadan, Oyo State, has hit 35, with the main sponsor, former queen of the Ooni of Ife, Naomi Silekunola, among those arrested.
The event was organised at the Basorun Islamic High School, by the Wings Foundation and Agidigbo FM radio.
The Oyo State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, said on Thursday that besides the dead 35 children, six others were seriously injured.
The police also confirmed the arrest of the ex-queen of the Ooni of Ife, Naomi Silekunola; the Principal of Islamic High School, Ibadan, Fasasi Abdulahi; and six others in connection to the death during a stampede at a funfair in Ibadan, on Wednesday.
The ex-queen was named as the main sponsor of the event.
The event, which was held at the Islamic High School, Basorun, Ibadan, was made available to 5,000 children but the number that turned up was reportedly over 7, 500, according to investigations.
The Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department has opened a probe, he added.
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde had shared his condolences on X Wednesday.
“Our hearts remain with the families and loved ones impacted by this tragedy. May the souls of the departed rest in peace,” Makinde said.
“We sympathise with the parents whose joy has suddenly been turned to mourning due to these deaths,” he added.