The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has expressed deep sympathy to the families of children who lost their lives in the tragic stampede that occurred during a funfair event at the Islamic High School, Basorun, Ibadan, Oyo State, on Wednesday.
The Oyo State Police Command confirmed that at least 35 people died during the incident, which took place at a family event organized by Wings Foundation, a non-profit founded by the former queen, Naomi Silekunola. Following the tragedy, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, announced that the ex-queen and seven others had been arrested in connection with the event.
Reacting to the incident, the Ooni, through his spokesman, Moses Olafare, expressed heartfelt condolences to the government of Oyo State and the bereaved families. He pledged the support of the House of Oduduwa in efforts to bring comfort and healing to those affected.
“We share in the grief and pains that have engulfed the affected families. We pray that Olodumare grants them the fortitude to bear this trying time,” the statement read.
The Ooni also expressed solidarity with the former queen, highlighting her history of compassion for children. He recalled that, as a queen in Ile-Ife, she organized similar events aimed at providing joy and support to children from less privileged backgrounds.
“While at the Ile Oodua here as a queen, Miss Naomi Silekuola Ogunseyi demonstrated love and care to the children of Ile-Ife through similar events which she executed passionately to give succour to children of indigent parents every December period like this,” the statement added.
The Ooni condemned the sensationalism that followed the tragedy, criticizing some bloggers for their unprofessional approach to reporting the incident. He called for calm, collective responsibility, and compassion from all stakeholders, including government officials, the media, and citizens.
“While the situation calls for solemn reflection and collective responsibility, we would want to express dismay at the unprofessional conduct of some bloggers who have chosen to sensationalize the tragic incident rather than uphold journalistic integrity,” the statement read.
The monarch emphasized the importance of stricter adherence to safety standards and child welfare policies in public events and educational institutions to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.
“The House of Oduduwa calls for immediate actions to prevent such unfortunate incidents in the future, emphasizing the need for rigorous adherence to safety standards and child welfare policies in educational institutions,” the statement concluded.
The Ooni’s message shows the need for compassion, unity, and proactive measures to safeguard the lives of people especially children in public spaces.
