A year-end children’s funfair in Ibadan, Oyo State, ended in tragedy yesterday when a stampede claimed the lives of over 30 people, mostly children.

The event, organised by Women in Need of Guidance and Support—a group reportedly founded by Queen Naomi Silekunola, the former wife of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi—was intended to distribute ₦5,000 to 5,000 children and provide free food to attendees.

Crowds began to gather at the Islamic High School, Basorun, as early as 5:00 a.m., with parents and children converging on the venue. By 6:00 a.m., the crowd had swelled significantly, but the gates to the venue remained locked while organisers were inside.

The stampede occurred when the gate was eventually opened. Eyewitnesses reported that people surged forward, causing many, especially children, to fall and be trampled in the chaos.

Mrs Omolewa Azeez, whose seven-year-old son Mubarak survived the incident, described the harrowing scene:
“We arrived at 6 a.m., but the gates were not opened. That was the root of the problem. People were suffocating, and the crowd was overwhelming. When the organisers tried to open the gate, there was a rush, but they quickly tried to close it again. This caused many people to fall, and others stepped on them.”

The injured and deceased were taken to hospitals across Ibadan. Governor Seyi Makinde described the incident as a “disaster” on his X (formerly Twitter) handle.

Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, initially reported 32 fatalities but later retracted the statement, saying the figure would be confirmed after a full briefing by the Commissioner of Police.

Eyewitnesses, first responders, and hospital sources, however, corroborated that the death toll exceeded 30. The victims were taken to various hospitals, including Patnas Specialist Hospital, Best Western Hospital, Molly Specialist Hospital, Ring Road State Hospital, and the University College Hospital (UCH).

Governor Makinde, in a series of posts on X, expressed his condolences to the bereaved families:
“Today is a tragic day for us in Oyo State. A stampede at the Islamic High School, Basorun, has resulted in multiple deaths and injuries.

“We sympathise with parents whose joy has turned to mourning. Security agents have been deployed to restore order, and medical personnel are providing assistance.

“The event has been stopped, and investigations are underway. The primary organisers have been taken into custody. I assure everyone that those responsible will face justice. Our hearts go out to the families affected. May the departed rest in peace.”

As of the time of filing this report, efforts to confirm the exact casualty figures from the police were unsuccessful. Police spokesperson Adewale Osifeso said in a WhatsApp message, “Investigation is in progress. Updates will be provided accordingly.”