Following the uproar sparked by the death of 35 children during a stampede at a funfair in Ibadan, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has taken charge of investigations into the tragic incident. Punch reports.
The stampede occurred when participants rushed to gain access to the venue of the event reportedly organised by the ex-queen of the Ooni of Ife, Prophetess Naomi Silekunola, and an Ibadan-based broadcaster, Oriyomi Hamzat.
Apart from the 35 children who lost their lives in the stampede, six others who were injured were rushed to hospitals.
The event was said to have been initially planned for 5,000 children, but over 7,500 children showed up, worsening the tense situation.
Naomi, who was arrested by the police, reportedly collapsed on Friday.
A popular broadcast journalist in Ibadan, Seun Aribikola, revealed this in a Facebook post.
According to him, she was immediately rushed to the Police Hospital at Eleyele for medical treatment.
The broadcast journalist said the ex-queen was taken to the hospital alongside the Chairman of Agidigbo FM, Hamzat.
“It is confirmed. But she is responding to treatment,” he told Saturday PUNCH.
A senior staff member of the police hospital also confirmed the development to one of our correspondents.
“Both of them are currently at the hospital. They brought them in today. But I can’t give you further details because it is a sensitive matter and the police have barricaded the whole hospital,” the hospital worker said.
The spokesperson for the Oyo State Police Command, Adewale Osifeso, had in a statement, said eight individuals were arrested in connection with the incident.
However, a top police source on Friday said the matter had been taken over by the IG.
The source said, “The IG is now in charge of the case. Anything you want, I think you should call Abuja.”
When contacted, the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, declined comment.
Dead, injured victims
Speaking on the incident, the Chairman of Medical Advisory Council of Adeoyo State Specialist Hospital, Adeoye Allen-Taylor, said four children were on admission at the hospital.
Asked to mention the number of casualties brought dead to the hospital, he said, “Some were brought dead; I think the government has already released the number.
“I have seen online the number and the total, and I will only be able to echo what has been announced. The children were brought here at the same time. The Commissioners of Health and Women Affairs and the Commissioner of Police worked together as a team.”
Allen-Taylor said the government was footing the bills, as everything was being centrally coordinated.
The Public Relations Officer of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Funmi Adetuyibi, said five people were confirmed dead in the facility.
She, however, noted that none of the bodies was taken to the hospital’s mortuary.