Ibadan Tragedy : 32 Feared Dead in Stampede at Children’s Funfair

A children’s end-of-year funfair in Ibadan, Oyo State, turned into a disaster yesterday, leaving at least 32 people, mostly children, dead and many others injured in a stampede.

The incident occurred at the Islamic High School, Basorun, where the event was held. Eyewitnesses reported that the crowd became uncontrollable when the gate was opened, leading to a stampede that resulted in many people falling and being trampled.

The event, organized by Women in Need of Guidance and Support, was intended to provide N5,000 to 5,000 children and offer free food to attendees. However, the large crowd and poor organization led to the tragic outcome.

Governor Seyi Makinde described the incident as a “disaster” and promised that those responsible would be held accountable. The state government has deployed a rapid response team to assist the victims and their families.

The Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, confirmed that the victims had been taken to various hospitals in Ibadan for medical attention. The exact number of casualties is still being confirmed, but eyewitnesses and hospital sources estimate that the death toll could be higher than 30.

The incident has sparked widespread outrage and calls for greater accountability and safety measures at public events.