A day after President Bola Tinubu ordered probe into the stampede in a children funfair held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on Wednesday, the police have said that investigations are ongoing.
No fewer than 35 minors have been confirmed dead during the stampede at the funfair held at Islamic High School, Orita Bashorun, Ibadan.
Six persons were also critically injured and are currently receiving treatment.
Speaking on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, The Morning Brief on Friday, the Oyo police spokesperson, Adewale Osefiso, said that investigations are ongoing to unearth what triggered the ugly incident.
He, however, stated that preliminary findings on the incident could be pointing at poor crowd control.
“Investigations are in progress, but from the preliminary findings, it was discovered that at some point the fair, they were supposed to go in with a token, at some point the prices were slashed and later, some had the opportunity of going in free. So, at some point, something must have gone wrong as regards some sort of agitation,” Osefiso said.
He added, “In this case, when it comes to crowd control anything could have triggered it; it could be excitement, it could be fear, it could be panic and judging by the space, which at the end of the day we discovered that the crowd that got into that place which was not the originally planned number, could have also contributed to the stampede because those going in actually did most of the damage to those already in.”
According to the police spokesperson, the number of children that attended the funfair exceeded the expected number.
“The projected capacity of crowd that they expected exceeded, and a stampede ensued. As a matter of fact, the programmed had not even started properly when the when the process started.
“Sadly, we recorded as a Command 35 minors dying and of course 6 being critically injured and presently responding to various medical interventions,” Osefiso said.
The incident drew condemnation from many, including the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, who vowed to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
Makinde also said the state government would arrest those responsible for the incident and commiserated with parents whose children in the stampede.
Tinubu mourns, orders probe
In a statement by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, on Thursday, President Bola Tinubu extended his condolences to the government and people of Oyo State and, most importantly, to the grieving families who have lost their children in the unfortunate event.
“President Tinubu has urgently directed the relevant authorities to investigate the circumstances of this tragedy thoroughly,” the statement read in part.
Tinubu highlighted that it is imperative to determine whether negligence or deliberate actions contributed to this painful incident, ensuring a transparent and accountable process.
He also urged the Oyo State Government to take every necessary measure to prevent such a tragedy from reoccurring.
The police had earlier announced that seven suspects have been arrested for their roles in the disaster.
Osifeso said ex-queen of the Ooni of Ife, Naomi Silekunola; the Principal of Islamic High School, Ibadan, Fasasi Abdulahi; and six others were among those in police custody.
