Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has confirmed the arrest of the organisers of a children’s carnival in Ibadan, the state capital.
The incident, which occurred at the Islamic High School, Basorun, has claimed the lives of an unspecified number of children, sparking widespread grief and concern.
Speaking through an official statement released on Wednesday, Governor Makinde assured the public that swift measures were being taken to address the tragedy and prevent similar incidents in the future.
“Earlier today, an incident occurred in Islamic High School Basorun, the venue of an event organised for families. We have taken steps to ensure no further deaths are recorded at this venue by deploying security agents to restore order at the venue. We also deployed medical personnel and ambulances to the venue. The event has been stopped, and attendees have been escorted out of the venue. While investigations are ongoing, the primary organisers of the event that led to this stampede have been taken into custody,” Governor Makinde said.
The state government has launched a detailed investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. Emergency responders were immediately deployed to the scene to provide medical assistance, and the venue has been closed to ensure safety.
The Governor pledged that anyone found responsible for the fatal stampede will face legal consequences.