A day after President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria ordered an investigation into the tragic stampede at a children’s funfair in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the police have confirmed that investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
The stampede, which occurred at the Islamic High School in Orita Bashorun, Ibadan, claimed the lives of at least 35 minors, with six others critically injured and currently receiving medical treatment. The tragedy unfolded on Wednesday, drawing widespread condemnation from the public, including Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, who vowed to ensure a thorough investigation into the incident.
In an interview with Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Friday, Oyo State police spokesperson, Adewale Osefiso, revealed that while investigations were still in progress, initial findings suggested poor crowd control might have triggered the stampede.
“From the preliminary findings, it was discovered that at some point, the fair attendees were meant to enter with a token, but later, prices were reduced, and some people were allowed to enter for free. This likely caused some agitation,” Osefiso said.
He added that crowd control challenges, combined with the unexpectedly large number of attendees, may have contributed to the chaos. “The crowd exceeded the expected number, and as a result, the situation escalated into a stampede. Sadly, 35 minors lost their lives, and six others are critically injured,” Osefiso said.
The police spokesperson also pointed out that excitement, fear, or panic could have exacerbated the situation. He noted that the event had not even started properly when the stampede occurred, further suggesting mismanagement of the crowd.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage, with Governor Makinde promising to take action against those responsible. He also expressed his condolences to the affected families and vowed to prevent future tragedies.
In response to the incident, President Tinubu, in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, extended his condolences to the people of Oyo State and the grieving families. He ordered a comprehensive investigation into the event to ascertain whether negligence or deliberate actions were involved. Tinubu emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability throughout the inquiry.
So far, seven individuals have been arrested in connection with the incident, including Naomi Silekunola, the former queen of the Ooni of Ife, and Fasasi Abdulahi, the Principal of Islamic High School, Ibadan. Police continue to investigate their roles in the disaster.
