…As govt nabs primary suspect
By Adeyinka Adeniran
Scores of people, mostly children on Wednesday died while many others suffered varying degrees of injury during a children funfair party.
The incident happened at the Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan organised by an ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife, Queen Naomi Silekunola.
The event was promoted by an Ibadan based radio station, Agidigbo FM, and targeted 5,000 children beneficiaries. They were also promised N5,000 cash gift with free food.
It was gathered that the incident was called off when parents who had stormed the entrance gate in a bid to gain access caused a stampede.
The event which was billed to be free of charge was called off before it could begin, as over 15,000 residents had stormed the venue as at 4AM.
According to sources, things went out of hands when around 6AM, thousands of people who had stormed the venue were denied access on account that the targeted 5,000 limit had been reached.
In a bid to ensure the restriction, the crowd was said to have started massive push which resulted in a stampede, leaving many people dieing on at the spot.
While the situation lasted, many of the victims, mostly children were rushed to nearby hospitals for immediately medical attention.
Some of the hospitals where the victims were took to include: Patnas Specialist Hospital, Oluwo Kekere, Bashorun; Best Western Hospital, Bashorun, Molly Specialist Hospital, Idi-Ape, Ringroad State Hospital and the University College Hospital (UCH), all in Ibadan.
The situation led to early morning gridlock for commuters plying the Bashorun axis as thousands of people mostly women and children were seen walking long distance as things began to go out of hands.
A woman who was also seen wailing was said to have led his son to scale the fence into the venue but has been looking for his son since after the incident.
When Corenews visited the scene, it was observed that nylons, bags, shoes, slippers, cloths among other petty items were seen littering about 50 meters radius to and fro the venue.
Although, the event was called off, women and children were still seen in their small numbers in different places around the Islamic High School. Many of them refused to speak with reporters when asked questions for fear of arrest.
It was also observed that Police officers from the state Command were seated in various places under the massive canopy set up for the event.
The venue looks disorganised with many of the decorations scattered on the ground. Police vans were also parked at various points at the entrance of the venue.
When Corenews visited Patnas Specialist Hospital, Oluwo Kekere, Bashorun, Ibadan, it was gathered that four out 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 lamented the loss of his 7year old son. Weeping uncontrollably, suspected members of the family were seen trying to hold and pacify her.
The Admin officer of Patnas Specialist Hospital, Mrs Oluwafemi Akinyele confirmed that no fewer than four children were brought in dead around 8AM, Wednesday morning.
She said, “If I’m not mistaken, they were brought in by few minutes past 8, they were brought in numbers of 5, 4 dead immediately, one was resuscitate back. He’s a male. Four females and a male.
“The male is still in the ward currently. I don’t really know his condition because I was a bit agitated but he’s fine. He’s eating. I fed him myself and he’ll be discharged any moment from now.
“Six were brought in here so far. Five were brought in at first but the Red Cross ambulance brought in 1 afterwards.
“Four were dead and 2 males. Out of the two that survived, one has been discharged already but the other one is responding to treatment.
“Some parents took their dead 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 Corenews visited to see the affected children.
Apparently enraged, Mr Azeez, 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, was almost slapping the wife and beating her while he tried to recount his ordeal as caused by his wife.
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.
When the situation simmer, speaking with Corenews in an interview, Mrs Azeez Omolewa whose 7 year old son, Mubarak, was receiving treatment said the situation could have been saved if the organisers had not allowed people stockpile at the entrance gate for too long.
She said “We got there around 6AM this morning. 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 much.
“There wouldn’t have been problem, but because they left everyone stocked together. At a point, they were about to open the gate and people tried to force their way in, but immediate they tried to forced the gate closed which 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 to huge crowd, but things got complicated when people started falling on each other and they were marching some people.”
Also, at Best Western Hospital, Ibadan, it was gathered that some children who were brought in had died before arrival while some others were receiving attention.
At Molly Specialist Hospital, Corenews gathered that none of the children brought in were admitted as they were referred elsewhere.
A source who pleaded anonymity at the entrance gate said, the hospital could not admit any of the victim because it had no space in his children ward as at the time of the incident.
However, a parent, Olalekan Salam who arrived at the time of the visit said he was referred to Molly from the University College Hospital and the Adeoyo Specialist Hospital after he could not find his wife and six years old son who left the house to attend the funfair.
Speaking on the development, Governor Seyi Makinde described the day as a sad day for the state due to the multiple loss of lives and injuries.
He said the state has taken steps to ensure no further deaths are recorded at the venue by deploying security agents to restore order at the venue.
Makinde said “Earlier today, an incident occurred in Islamic High School, Bashorun, 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 at the venue. 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.”
Earlier, the State Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal had led some government officials to the scene of the incident and the nearby hospitals to see some of the victims.
The deputy governor had stressed that the government was not involved in the planning or organising of the event in any way while assuring that the state will ensure that those involved will not be spared.
Also, worried by the development, the state government while mourning the tragic loss swiftly mobilised a rapid response team following the breaking of the incident.
Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade confirmed that the victims have been swiftly transported to various hospitals within the Ibadan metropolis for medical attention.
He appreciated the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, for immediately activating all available response teams to provide assistance at the scene of the incident, assuring that the state government will do all in its power to stand by victims of the unfortunate incident through this trying period.
He noted that the state government was not involved in any of the planning, neither was the Ministry of Health requested to provide any logistics to support the private children’s end of the year funfair.
It emphasized the importance of proper coordination when organizing events of such magnitude, especially those involving children and elders.
The Commissioner indicated that they are currently awaiting a detailed report from the Commissioner of Police to clarify the total number of victims involved in the unfortunate incident.
The commissioner said parents who are concerned about the whereabouts of their children are urged to check the medical facilities in Ibadan where children affected were taken for proper medical attention with valid means of identification.
When contacted, the spokesman, Oyo State Police Command, Adewale Osifeso, said “investigation is in progress. Updates would be provided accordingly, please.”
