The incident may have happened weeks back, but the past has not been heard as BAYO AGBOOLA reports.
No doubt, Wednesday, December 18 stood out as another black day in the history of Ibadan, the Oyo state capital with the deadly stampede recorded in the morning of the day at the event leading to the untimely death of 35 persons with six others critically injured.
The event according to investigations was initially billed to be for 5,000 children but the number later became as high as over 7, 500 with some parents together with their children said to have stormed the Islamic High school Basorun event venue of the Ibadan Children Funfair as early as Tuesday night sleeping there ahead of the Wednesday to benefit from the event. It was gathered that as at Wednesday morning, the venue has been been filled into full capacity resulting in those wishing to enter into the scene struggling their ways at the main entrance while many others resulted into scaling the schools wall fence with their children to have their ways .
These according to investigations led to the stampede during which most of the victims were reportedly choked to death either while attempting to break through the main gate of the school or force their way out of the crowd. Sources said within about the 30 minutes stampede, many people including children were seen on ground with most of them looking helpless while other died on the spot.
Few minutes after the sad occurrence, Gov Seyi Makinde in a statement condemned the stampede. “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.”
Gov Makinde added” 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”.
Official state gov’t reaction
The state commissioner for information and orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade in a statement said he stampede was unfortunate and 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.
Prince Oyelade stated that victims of the stampede have been swiftly transported to various hospitals within the Ibadan metropolis for medical attention and that the state government will do all in its power to stand by victims of the incident through this trying period, saying, parents who are concerned about the whereabouts of their children are urged to check Patnas Hospital, Basorun, Western Hospital, Basorun, Ringroad State Hospital, Molly Specialist Hospital, University College Hospital (UCH where children affected were taken for proper medical attention with valid means of identification.
APC mourns victims
The Oyo state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in its reaction to the incident tasked Gov Seyi Makinde to ensure that justice is done and that the state government should immediately set up a panel to investigate the tragic incident with a view to identifying those behind it.
APC in a statement by the party’s publicity secretary, Comrade Olawale Sadare said the state government should set up a high-powered panel to investigate the tragic incident with a view to identifying those believed to be culpable in the unfortunate death of the innocent kids as well as establishing the facts surrounding the sordid planning and execution of the event by the organisers.
“While we are not going to preempt the investigative panel recommended for establishment by the state government over this particular matter, we call on Governor Seyi Makinde to ensure that justice is done to the numerous victims of the tragedy even as we sympathize with their parents and other family members. We are in deep sorrow as a result of the tragic incident which claimed many lives in Ibadan In any given circumstances, the loss of any innocent life attracts lamentations and regret as it became more saddening when it was realized that the ugly development could have been prevented if certain authorities had done the needful in the areas of surveillance, intelligence gathering and pro-activeness.
Royal fathers mourn incident
The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin and the Olubadan in Council in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Olubadan, Olugbemiga Ayoade condemned the sad and untimely death of children and injuries during the stampede.
“The Olubadan and the Olubadan – in – Council are deeply saddened about the loss of the lives of innocent children during the funfair stampede yesterday at Islamic High School Basorun, Ibadan. Kabiyesi and the Advisory Council commiserate with the parents and families of the departed praying the the souls of the departed rest in peace and that God gives the families the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
“We implore the Oyo state government to conduct a thorough investigation of the unfortunate incident, bring the culprits to book and establish protocols for organising and managing such events especially when it involves the future generation.”
Oba Olakulehin urged the state government to conduct investigation into the incident with a view to preventing future occurrences and bringing the culprits to book and as well called on parents and guardians to ensure the safety of their children and wards at all times as he prayed for God’s guidance and protection wishing residents and indigenes of Ibadanland a prosperous new year.
