Many children reportedly lost their lives during a stampede which occurred at a Children Funfair in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The programme which was organised by Women in Need of Governance and Support (WINGS), an initiative of Queen Naomi Silekunola, former wife of Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, was held at Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan.
According to eye witnesses, many people got to the entrance of the venue as early as 6 am while some people allegedly slept at the venue.
It was learnt that the stampede occurred when many children and some parents thronged the gate of the school thereby causing violent push resulting in stampede.
It was gathered that many children who are mostly underage fell and were matched by others struggling to gain entrance to the main venue of the program which was announced on one of the popular radio stations in the city.
During a visit to the scene clothes and shoes of children littered the floor while security officials were manning the gate telling the remaining people at the venue to vacate the premises.
In the meantime, the Oyo State government has mourned the tragic loss of lives at the carnival.
The state government in a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, said a stampede occurred at the private children’s fun fair held at Basorun Islamic High School, leading to loss of lives, mostly children, with some others injured in the early hours of today.
According to him, the state government swiftly mobilised a rapid response team following the breaking of the incident, noting that victims were swiftly transported to various hospitals within the Ibadan metropolis for medical attention.
While appreciating the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, for immediately activating all available response teams to provide assistance at the scene of the incident, Oyelade said the state government will do all in its power to stand by victims of the fateful incident.
He stated further 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, emphasizing the need for proper coordination when organizing events of such magnitude, especially those involving children and elders.
The Commissioner indicated that the state government is currently awaiting a detailed report from the state Commissioner of Police to clarify the total number of victims involved in the unfortunate incident.
Oyelade then urged parents who are concerned about the whereabouts of their children to check the medical facilities in Ibadan that include Patnas Hospital, Basorun; Western Hospital, Basorun; Ringroad State Hospital; Molly Specialist Hospital, University College Hospital (UCH); Adeoyo State Hospital and Total Family Hospital at Basorun, where children affected were taken for proper medical attention with valid means of identification.
Kemi Olaitan
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