Tag: Ibadan funfair tragedy

A legal practitioner, Mr Oluwatobi Fatoki, has condemned the parents involved in throwing children over the fence to collect palliatives as witnessed in Wednesday’s funfair tragedy in Ibadan.

Fatoki, a former spokesperson, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ibadan Branch, said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Tuesday that such parents were culpable.

NAN recalls 35 children died on Wednesday in a funfair stampede at Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan.

Fatoki emphasised that the act of throwing or aiding children over the fence to collect palliatives was outrightly illegal and injurious.

“Such a parent should be held culpable for the death of any child who dies in the process; the paramount interest of a child should be the major concern of any parent.

“Parents and guardians should live up to the responsibility to protect their wards. We have lost national ethics according to the constitution.

“Government should ensure that things are done in the right way. We have regulatory bodies and protocols that should be followed.

“Issues of charity should be regulated in all ways to have a positive outcome,” he said.

The legal practitioner urged governments at all levels to put in place strict policies and protocols that must be adhered to by organisers of such programmes.

“These policies must be strictly followed before any mass gathering occurs in their states.

“Facilities such as numbers of uniformed officers/securities, first aid and medical emergency personnel, arrangement and mode of distribution should all be considered.

“This will support the masses in following directions and orders,” he said.

He also said it was time for community orientation on how the masses must act during massive distribution or empowerment programmes.

“Community leaders and school authorities can be used to help with this awareness.

“We all have to be involved to ensure the safety, protection and security of our people and community,” he said.

According to Fatoki, where there is orderliness and proper arrangements, there is always a graceful and not a disgraceful result.

(NAN)

Old students of Islamic High School, Basorun, Ibadan, the venue of the Ibadan funfair tragedy, have demanded the release of the school principal, Mr Abdullah Fasasi, on administrative bail.

The National President of the Islamic High School Old Students Association, Mr Bayo Busari, made the demand while speaking with newsmen in Ibadan on Saturday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls the police had since Wednesday detained Fasasi and others in connection with the tragedy, which claimed 35 lives.

Busari, who commended the police for bringing the situation under control and commencing investigations, said the association was neither averse to police investigation nor willing to obstruct it.

According to him, the association is, however, concerned about the false public narrative that the school principal approved the use of the school facility for the programme.

The supposed approval from the principal, he said, formed the basis of his arrest by the police.

“The narrative is not true; the Oyo State Ministry of Education gave the approval for the use of the school facility to Agidigbo FM since 2023, and it has been using it for its programme since then.

“The information we have is that some days before the incident, Agidigbo FM approached the principal, informing him that the school facility would be used for the programme, and the principal advised Agidigbo to approach the ministry to get approval and make the necessary payment.

“The usual practice is that once approval has been requested, payment would be made, and they will just come to the school with the evidence of payment, which is proof that authorises the use of the school premises.

“Approval may not come three days or even weeks after the programme would have been held.

“In this instance, the school had the proof that the organiser had made payment to the government, and as usual practice, the principal cannot stop them from using the premises,” Busari said.

Busari said the alumni were surprised that a director in charge of schools at the Ministry of Education would address the press that the ministry knew nothing about the programme.

He wondered why the police detained the principal, while he was neither the organiser nor the person who approved the school facility for use.

“Our demand is that the principal be released, and we are ready to have him released on administrative bail.

“We will stand as surety for him,” the president said.

(NAN)

• ….clarifies its role in the incident

Agidigbo FM, an Ibadan-based radio station, has clarified its involvement in the tragic Children’s Funfair held on Wednesday. 

The event, which turned chaotic, led to widespread speculation about the station’s role.

In an official statement signed by its Director of Programs, Olayinka AbdulWahab, Agidigbo FM stated that it was not the organizer of the funfair but merely one of the media partners engaged to promote it. 

The station explained that the event was organized by the WINGS Foundation.

According to the statement, upon learning that a massive crowd had gathered at the venue as early as 5 a.m. on the day of the event, the station used its media platforms to urge the public to avoid the location in an effort to prevent further chaos.

Agidigbo FM also called on the public to avoid spreading what it described as fake news about its involvement, emphasizing the need to focus on factual information during this period.

The statement reads in part, “This is to inform the general public that the management of Agidigbo FM, Ibadan received the news of the tragedy that heralded the children fun fair at Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan, organized by the WINGS foundation with great shock and wholeheartedly commiserate with the families involved.

“Amidst the tragedy, the news making the rounds says that Agidigbo FM, is the organizer of the children funfair, however, the management wishes to state that Agidigbo FM is not the organizer of the event but one of the media outfits used to promote the event.

Read Also: JUST IN: Oyo govt deploys rapid response team, mourns victims of Ibadan funfair tragedy

“Upon receiving the notice that a mammoth crowd had assembled before 5am this morning at the venue, Agidigbo FM, the people’s voice, use all media strategies to sensitize the populace with jingles and Public service Announcement, from that time that people should stop going to the venue of the funfair.

“The organizers of the event also did all they can to ensure that the tragedy was curtailed by deploying security apparatus, medical officials, and other relevant agencies to come to the aid of those affected by this tragic event.

“This a very sad day for us all, however, we call on the general public to shun the spread of fake news and contact Agidigbo FM, for more information.

“This is not the time to spread misinformation, the Management of Agidigbo FM, implore the general public to continue to pray for the speedy recovery of those in various hospitals and sympathise with the family of those who lost their lives.

“Thank you for your constant support. We pray to never experience any tragic experience.”