Police arrest Ooni’s ex-wife, others as Ibadan funfair death toll rises to 35

The operatives of the Oyo State Police Command have arrested the former wife of the Ooni of Ife, Naomi Silekunola, over the death of some children during a stampede at a funfair at Basorun Islamic High School in Ibadan, the state capital.

The principal of the school, Fasasi Abdulahi, and six others were also arrested in connection with the stampede at the funfair in Ibadan on Wednesday, December 18, 2024.

The Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adewale Osifeso, confirmed the arrest of the suspects and the death of 35 children in a statement issued on Thursday, December 19.

Osifeso said 35 children had so far been documented dead while six others were left injured and on various medical interventions.

Osifeso said the case had been transferred to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku, with the Deputy Commissioner of Police leading the investigation.

Organisers arrested as many children die in Ibadan funfair stampede

“Residents around the axis are advised not to panic as they will witness high-level patrols and visible police presence to prevent hoodlums from taking advantage of the unfortunate situation,” he noted.

The police spokesperson said the command sympathised with all the families and loved ones affected by the tragedy, assuring the people of Oyo State that justice would be served accordingly.

Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Funmilayo Adetuyibi, said only five victims were brought to the hospital.

“The five victims brought in yesterday were brought in dead. So we are not talking about any admission because they were brought in dead,” Adetuyibi disclosed.

The Star