The management of Agidigbo FM, owned by Mr. Oriyomi Hamzat, says while it sympathised with the victims of a funfair in which over 30 children died in Ibadan on Wednesday, it is not the organiser of the event.
The event, which turned tragic on account of larger-than-expected numbers of attendees, was reportedly organised by the ex-queen of the Ooni of Ife, Prophetess Naomi Shikemi, and an Ibadan-based broadcaster, Oriyomi Hamzat.
In a statement signed by its Director of Programmes, Olayinka Abdulwahab, Agidigbo FM stressed that the radio station was a media partner to the event and not the organiser of the funfair.
Abdulwahab stressed that the management made frantic moves to sensitise the participants when it realised that the venue was crowded, noting, “This is to inform the general public that the management of Agidigbo FM, Ibadan received the news of the tragedy that heralded the children’s funfair at Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan, organised by the WINGS Foundation, with great shock and wholeheartedly commiserate with the families involved.
“Amidst the tragedy, the news making the rounds is that Agidigbo FM is the organiser of the children’s funfair. However, the management wishes to state that Agidigbo FM is not the organiser of the event but one of the media outfits used to promote the event.
“Upon receiving the notice that a mammoth crowd had assembled before 5am at the venue, Agidigbo FM, the people’s voice, used all media strategies to sensitise the populace with jingles and public service announcements from that time, that people should stop going to the venue of the funfair.
“This is not the time to spread misinformation. The management of Agidigbo FM implores the general public to continue to pray for the speedy recovery of those in various hospitals and sympathises with the family of those who lost their lives.”
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Oyo State Police Command, Adewale Osifeso, has confirmed the incident, noting that investigations have commenced.
“Investigation is in progress. Updates will be provided accordingly, please,” Osifeso said.
Multiple sources said that some of the children, including their parents, had kept vigil at the venue of the event, leading to an uncontrollable crowd that caused gridlock on the Basorun-Idi Ape Road.
An Administrative Officer of Patnas Hospital, Basorun, where some of the victims were admitted, Olufeyemi Tolulope, said, “The affected children were brought in some minutes past 8am. Six children were brought into the hospital out of which five died, while the other one is recuperating.
“We were told that the deceased fainted at the venue of the event. We were able to rescue one, while the remaining five died. The surviving child has been discharged and released to her parents.
“One of the parents of the deceased, who was sighted at the hospital premises wailing, said, “I did not bargain for what happened to me. We slept together at home yesterday (Tuesday) not knowing that it would be the last time. My daughter is not dead. Please doctor wake her up!”
Other parents, who did not want their names in print, called on the government to prevail on the management of the various hospitals for the release of the corpses of their children.
The victims, according to a statement by the state’s Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, were admitted at the following hospitals: Patnas Hospital, Basorun; Western Hospital, Basorun; Ring Road State Hospital; Molly Specialist Hospital and University College Hospital.
Some of the parents were also sighted at UCH lamenting the death of their children.
The UCH Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Funmi Adetuyibi, disclosed that five of the victims of the incident were brought in dead, adding that none of the victims of the incident was on admission at the facility as of Wednesday evening.
Also at Molly Hospital, an eyewitness who did not want his name mentioned said some unspecified victims brought to the hospital by rescue workers were brought in dead.
A staff member of the hospital, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said none of the victims of the tragedy was on admission as of 7pm on Wednesday.
Efforts to get the Ooni’s ex-wife, Naomi, the alleged organiser of the event that led to the stampede, proved abortive as her phone number was not available.
