Many Dead During Stampede At Queen Naomi’s Children’s Party In Ibadan

 

Tragedy struck at the Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan, on Wednesday morning, when a stampede broke out during a children’s Christmas party organised by Queen Naomi Silekunola Ogunwusi, a former wife of the Ooni of Ife.

The event, which was tagged the “2024 Children Fun Fair,” had promised to host over 5,000 children between the ages of 0 and 13 years, offering gifts and scholarships under the aegis of Queen Naomi’s Women in Need of Guidance and Support (WINGS) Foundation.

However, what began as a festive gathering ended in devastation, as chaos erupted when a massive crowd surged forward to collect gifts and food.

Eyewitnesses told SaharaReporters that the stampede resulted in the deaths of several children, while many others sustained injuries.

Emergency services were called to the scene, with injured victims rushed to the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, for treatment. However, the exact number of casualties remains unclear at press time.

According to sources, the overcrowding at the venue was evident from the start, as thousands of children and their parents turned up for the highly-publicized event.

READ ALSO: Mining Reforms Not To Witch Hunt Anyone – Adeleke

Despite repeated warnings on Agidigbo FM advising people to stay away due to overcrowding, many were reportedly insistent on attending.

One eyewitness described the scene as “chaotic and devastating,” with children trampled underfoot in the scramble. Another onlooker noted that ambulances were overwhelmed by the scale of the tragedy.

Efforts to reach the management of Agidigbo FM and its founder, Oriyomi Hamzat, were unsuccessful, as calls to their offices went unanswered.

However, online reactions have been swift and critical. Social media users have blamed the organizers for poor crowd control and inadequate planning.

“It was announced severally on the radio that they should stop coming. People were still hell-bent on going there,” an X user, Adebanjo, said.

Another netizen, Kemi, claimed lifeless bodies of victims were transported to the UCH, saying, “This is such a tragic incident that could have been avoided.”

Speaking on the incident earlier, Queen Naomi had assured parents during a pre-event interview on Agidigbo FM of adequate security for participants, promising a well-organized event.

However, Wednesday’s stampede has raised questions about the preparations and capacity of the organizers to handle such a large turnout.

The Oyo State Police Command has yet to issue a statement on the incident, and attempts to contact its spokesperson were also unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.