By Kolawole Ojebisi
At least 10 children have reportedly lost their lives in a stampede that occurred during a children’s carnival in Ibadan the capital of Oyo State on Wednesday.
The number of casualties could not be ascertained as of press time as many other children were seriously injured during the unfortunate incident.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the Oyo state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, confirmed that the stampede occurred at a private children’s funfair at Basorun Islamic High School.
Oyelade stated that the government swiftly mobilised a rapid response team following the breaking of the incident.
The commissioner noted that victims had been swiftly transported to various hospitals within the Ibadan metropolis for medical attention.
While appreciating the Commissioner for Health, Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, for immediately activating all available response teams to assist at the scene, Oyelade said, “The state government will do all it can to support the victims of this tragic incident during this difficult period.
“The government was not involved in any planning, nor was the Ministry of Health asked to provide logistics for the private children’s end-of-year funfair.”
Oyelade, however, emphasised the importance of proper coordination when organising events of such magnitude, particularly those involving children and the elderly.
The commissioner indicated that they were awaiting a detailed report from the Commissioner of Police to clarify the total number of victims involved in this unfortunate incident.
“Parents who are concerned about the whereabouts of their children are urged to check the following medical facilities in Ibadan, where affected children have been taken for proper medical care, with valid means of identification:
Patnas Hospital, Basorun; Western Hospital, Basorun; Ringroad State Hospital; Molly Specialist Hospital; and the University College Hospital, Ibadan.”
He extended the government’s deepest sympathies to the families affected by this tragedy, urging the public to remain calm as relevant information is gathered and necessary support arranged for the victims.
Meanwhile, a resident of Bashorun who spoke to The New Diplomat correspondent stated that lack of logistics and poor planning caused the incident.
He noted that the venue of the event was not spacious enough for the number of children that attended the carnival.
According to him, the hard economy contributed largely to the tragic incident stressing that it was in the course of jostling for gifts and plates of food that a melee ensued which eventually claimed some children’s lives.
” Poverty contributed largely to the whole thing. That’s apart from poor planning. Thousands of children were “struggling” to get their share from hundreds of gifts and plates of food. The push and pull led to the commotion which caused the deaths and serious injuries reported.”
” I don’t know the actual number of children that died”, he added.
