A children’s carnival in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, turned into a scene of tragedy on Wednesday as a stampede reportedly claimed the lives of several children and left many others injured.
According to reports, over 30 children lost their lives in the unfortunate incident that occurred at a private funfair held at Basorun Islamic High School. Witnesses described scenes of chaos as the stampede unfolded, leaving families and organizers in shock.
The Oyo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, confirmed the incident in a statement. He revealed that the state government responded swiftly, deploying rapid response teams to the scene. The injured were promptly taken to various hospitals across Ibadan for urgent medical care.
Oyelade commended the state’s Commissioner for Health, Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, for mobilizing medical response teams without delay. He also assured the public that the government would provide necessary support to the victims and their families during this difficult time.
In his statement, Oyelade emphasized the need for proper planning and coordination when organizing large events, particularly those involving vulnerable groups such as children. “The government was not involved in any planning, nor was the Ministry of Health asked to provide logistics for the private children’s end-of-year funfair,” he noted.
He urged parents searching for their children to visit specific medical facilities where victims had been admitted, including Patnas Hospital, Western Hospital, Ringroad State Hospital, Molly Specialist Hospital, and the University College Hospital, Ibadan.
The government extended heartfelt condolences to the affected families and promised to release further details once investigations by the police were concluded. Citizens were also urged to remain calm as efforts were made to address the aftermath of the tragedy.
