Enimere Àkànbí
The Oyo State Government has directed the proprietor of an Ibadan based private radio station and the organisers of a children’s funfair which resulted into a stampede that claimed the lives of some children to surrender to the police to avoid the wrath of the government.
Report has it that there was a stampede this morning while the organisers were distributing palliatives during a children’s funfair held at Basorun Islamic High School, Ibadan.
The report added that the stampede resulted to loss of lives while some were injured.
Deputy Governor of the state, Barrister Bayo Lawal, while on a visit to the scene of the stampede, said the state government was not part of the programme.
Barrister Lawal, frowned at the non involvement of security agencies to maintain law and order during the event and promised that the state government would investigate the cause of the accident.
The deputy governor later visited Adeoyo state hospital, Ring-road and private hospitals where the victims are undergoing treatment.
According to eyewitnesses, the distribution of palliatives which target five thousand beneficiaries, was marred by chaos and disorder.
The organizers allegedly requested that each recipient bring only one child, but many people arrived with multiple children, ranging from 5 to 10 or more.
The situation quickly spiralled out of control, resulting in a stampede that claimed the lives of several children.
The exact number of casualties is still unknown, but reports suggest that it is substantial.
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