A youth festival In Nigeria turned out tragic!! It was a black Wednesday in Oyo state where at least 35 children lost their lives and six others were critically injured during a Christmas funfair in Ibadan, Nigeria, on December 18, 2024. The event, organized by WINGS Foundation and Agidigbo FM at the Islamic High School in Basorun, transformed from what should have been a festive celebration into a scene of unimaginable tragedy.
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The organizers had planned for about 5,000 people to attend the funfair. However, more than 7,500 people showed up, creating dangerous overcrowding. When the gates finally opened, chaos broke out as parents and children rushed to enter, especially when some important guests arrived at the venue.
One mother shared her terrifying experience: “I got to the place before 6:00 a.m. with my two children. As soon as they opened the gate, people rushed in and began to fall upon one another.” Her child was among those hurt in the stampede.
The police quickly stepped in after the tragedy. They arrested eight people connected to organizing the event, including Naomi Silekunola Ogunwusi, who used to be married to the Ooni of Ife and helped sponsor the funfair. School officials and other organizers were also taken into custody.
Police spokesperson Adewale Osifeso said they’re looking carefully into what happened. The case has been given to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department, which will try to figure out exactly what went wrong and who might be responsible.
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde spoke about the tragedy with deep sadness. “This is a very sad day… we sympathize with parents whose joy has suddenly turned to mourning due to these deaths,” he said. He promised to make sure steps would be taken to stop something like this from happening again.
Senator Sharafadeen Alli joined in calling for stricter rules about how big public events are run. He wants organizers across Nigeria to put safety first when planning gatherings like this.
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The tragedy has left the community in shock. Many parents who brought their children to the funfair now wish they hadn’t come. “I regret going to that funfair… I will not try such again,” one mother said, expressing a feeling shared by many other parents who expected a fun holiday event but instead faced terrible loss.
Local hospitals worked hard to help the injured children. The Chairman of the Medical Advisory Council at Adeoyo State Specialist Hospital reported that four children were still in the hospital but getting better with treatment.
This isn’t just about one tragic event – it shows bigger problems with how large public gatherings are managed in Nigeria. When events aren’t planned well and get too crowded, terrible things can happen. Many people are now asking hard questions about who checks to make sure these events are safe and what rules need to change.
As police continue their investigation, there are loud calls for justice for the families who lost children. People want real changes in how public events are run to make sure nothing like this ever happens again. The community’s grief has turned into demands for better safety rules and stricter oversight of public gatherings across Nigeria.
This tragedy reminds everyone that even simple holiday celebrations need careful planning and proper safety measures. As Ibadan mourns its lost children, many hope their deaths will lead to changes that protect others in the future.
