Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has vowed that those responsible for the tragic Ibadan funfair stampede, which claimed the lives of at least 35 children, will face trial, irrespective of their social status.
Makinde made this declaration during the 2025 Annual Inter-faith Service for workers in the state, where he stressed that the rule of law would be upheld in Oyo State, regardless of what might occur elsewhere.
The principal sponsor of the unfortunate funfair, Prophetess Naomi Silekunola, ex-wife of Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi; the founder of Agidigbo FM, Oriyomi Hamzat and the Principal of the Islamic High School, the venue of the event, Mr Abdullah Fasasi, are currently being held in Agodi Custodial Centre after their arraignment at a magistrate court in Ibadan.
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The three individuals connected to the incident were taken to magistrates’ court on December 24. After hearing from their lawyers, the magistrate ordered that they be remanded in the Agodi Custodial Centre, awaiting advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
In his speech, Governor Makinde addressed comparisons being drawn between the Ibadan stampede and similar incidents in Anambra and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where no one was held accountable. He made it clear that Oyo State would not adopt the same approach.
Makinde stated: “In the outgone year, we had challenges. 2024 started with us here in Oyo State, almost on a tragic note. On 16th January 2024, we had an explosion here in Bodija. It affected even my office. They felt it all around Ibadan. We’re closing it out.
“And then, towards the end of the year, we had the stampede at Islamic High School, Basharun. 35 innocent souls were lost. May we never witness such tragedy again in Oyo State.”
Makinde went on to add: “Quite a number of people have been reaching out to me, saying, ‘This happened in Anambra, it happened also in FCT. Nobody went to jail. Why is it in Oyo State that some people are going to jail?’ I said, well, Oyo State is not Anambra State, and no matter how highly-placed, justice must be done.
“The judiciary is here, it’s in their court. If you think you can grant bail pending the trial, I don’t have anything against it. But trial must proceed, and the people responsible must face justice.”
