Ibadan Funfair Tragedy: “How I Was Trapped with My Baby,” Witness Recounts as Death Toll Hits 35
- A mother, Idayat Abubakar, has shared her first-hand experience at the funfair in Ibadan, which has reportedly claimed 35 lives and left many others injured
- She recalled that attendees travelled from as far as Ogbomosho and Osun state and had camped inside the school a day before the event, eagerly awaiting the funfair but were hit by the unexpected
- Abubakar noted that when things took a devastating turn, many attendees were injured, and some fainted, while others struggled to find their children as event organisers could not manage the crowd
Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.
Idayat Abubakar, a witness who attended the children’s funfair held at Islamic High School, Orita Bashorun, Ibadan, which turned tragic, has given her account of what really happened.
Source: Twitter
Legit.ng reported that the funfair, meant for 5,000 attendees, turned into a nightmare following the stampede, which has claimed the lives of 35 minors.
The event, organised by Naomi Silekunola, ex-wife of Ooni of Ife, was widely promoted, especially on Agidigbo FM, which is known as the most-listened-to station in Ibadan.
Witness recalls horrifying stampede at Ibadan funfair
But speaking with The Cable, Idayat Abubakar, a witness, disclosed that people travelled from as far as Ogbomosho, Iseyin, and Osun state on Tuesday, December 17, a day before the event was meant to commence, and camped inside the school.
She was accompanied by her sister, whom she invited, to spend the night at her place so they could arrive at the venue early enough.
Abubakar noted that she had gone to the place on Tuesday evening and interacted with the attendees, who were in a merry mood, excited about meeting the ex-queen and enjoying the event.
However, when things took a devastating turn, she noted that Oriyomi Hazmat, CEO of Agidigbo FM, could no longer handle the crowd due to insufficient security.
Abubakar said:
“Immediately he got to the scene, people started hailing him. When he saw the crowd, he put his hand on his head. They had to smuggle him inside. While opening the gate for him, people rushed in and started falling on themselves. There was no security, no police.
“My younger sister got injured; she was stepped on with her baby. Till now, she has not recovered.
“A lot of us were trapped with our babies. I was backing my baby, and my sister was holding hers. So, when they pushed her, she fell on the floor. She fainted twice, and when I saw her, they were already pouring water on her head. At one point, the baby could not even breathe.
According to her, they opened the walkway gate when the stampede started at the main gate.
“That was when I started hearing different things. We started seeing casualties; people fainted, lost their phones and belongings, and people fell on their children.”
She noted that Oriyomi started pushing people to leave the road as some were jumping the fence.
Another witness, who identified as T & K, blamed the tragic turn of events on the impatience of the attendees.
The witness stated that the setting-up for the event was yet to be done when the incident happened. He added that the crowd blocked the school gate, and the trucks bearing the gifts and refreshments could not access it.
Legit.ng reported that the Oyo state police confirmed that 35 minors have died, with seven suspects arrested for their roles in the disaster.
Read more about Ibadan funfair tragedy:
- Atiku reacts to Ibadan funfair tragedy that claims 35 lives
- Ibadan funfair tragedy: Tinubu orders probe as death toll hits 35
- Ibadan tragedy: Olubadan sends message to Makinde
Ibadan tragedy: Agidigbo FM chairman hospitalised
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that on Thursday, December 19, sources revealed that the chairman of Agidigbo FM, Oriyomi Hamzat, is unconscious and hospitalised in Ibadan after the devastating funfair incident.
Oriyomi Hamzat reportedly played a key role in promoting the funfair but the outcome reportedly overwhelmed him, leading to his current condition.
Proofreading by Nkem Ikeke, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.
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Source: Legit.ng
