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35 children are killed in an Ibadan carnival stampede, and Ooni’s ex-wife and seven other people are arrested.
Many people condemned the Wednesday incident, including Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, who promised to look into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
Makinde also expressed sympathy to parents whose children were killed in the stampede and said the state government would apprehend those responsible for the incident.
The State Police Command declared a day later that seven suspects had been taken into custody for their involvement in the catastrophe.
According to Adewale Osifeso, the spokesperson for the Command, six people are being held by the police, including Naomi Silekunola, the former queen of the Ooni of Ife; and Fasasi Abdulahi, the principal of Islamic High School in Ibadan.
According to the statement, ex-queen was named as the main sponsor of the event.
“The Oyo State Police Command wishes to inform the good people of the State that (8) Persons have since been arrested for their various involvements,” Osifeso said.
These individuals include Prophetess Naomi Silekunola, the primary event sponsor, who is 31 years old; Fasasi Abdulahi, who is 56 years old and the principal of Islamic High School in Ibadan; Genesis Christopher, who is 24 years old; Tanimowo Moruf, who is 52 years old; Anisolaja Olabode, who is 42 years old; Idowu Ibrahim, who is 35 years old; and Abiola Oluwatimilehin, who is 25 years old.
The Command’s spokesman also said that six persons are injured and receiving treatment in a medical facility.
Thirty-five minors have been reported dead thus far, and six more are critically injured and receiving various medical interventions, he continued.
According to Osifeso, the case has since been moved to the State Criminal Investigation Department’s Iyaganku Homicide Section, where the investigating Deputy Commissioner of Police is in charge.
He called on residents not to panic “as they would witness high level patrols and visible Police presence to prevent hoodlums from taking advantage of the unfortunate situation.”