Tragedy at Ibadan carnival: Stampede claims lives of many children

A carnival in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, turned tragic as a stampede reportedly claimed the lives of several children.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday at Bashorun Islamic High School, the venue of the private children’s funfair.

According to eyewitnesses, the chaos ensued as parents and children thronged the venue ahead of the event, which was scheduled to take place later that day.

Some families reportedly arrived on Tuesday, while others came early Wednesday morning. The rush to gain entry overwhelmed the venue, leading to a stampede that left several children dead and many others injured.

The Oyo State Government confirmed the unfortunate development in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade.

“A stampede occurred at the private children’s funfair held at Bashorun Islamic High School, leading to loss of lives, mostly children, with some others injured in the early hours of today,” Oyelade said.

He noted that the government swiftly mobilized a rapid response team to manage the situation. “Victims have been transported to various hospitals within the Ibadan metropolis for medical attention,” he added.

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The government also provided a list of hospitals where injured children and victims have been admitted: Patnas Hospital, Basorun; Western Hospital, Basorun, Ring Road State Hospital; Molly Specialist Hospital and University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.

Parents seeking their children have been advised to visit these facilities with valid identification to locate their loved ones.

While the exact number of casualties remains unclear, reports suggest that the stampede resulted in significant fatalities and injuries. Efforts to reach the Public Relations Officer of the Oyo State Police Command, Adewale Osifeso, for further clarification, were unsuccessful at the time of this report.

The incident has cast a shadow over what was intended to be a festive celebration, leaving families in grief and raising questions about crowd control measures at public events.

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Further updates are expected as investigations continue.