Popular Nigerian actor and director, Femi Branch, has shared his thoughts on the tragic stampede that occurred during a funfair in Ibadan, Oyo State, leaving over 35 people dead, most of whom were children.
The event took place at the Islamic High School in the Bashorun area and was organized by Prophetess Naomi Silekunola Ogunwusi, the ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife. Originally planned for 5,000 attendees, the funfair drew a much larger crowd due to promises of free entry, gifts, and scholarships.
On the night before the event, hundreds of people camped outside the venue, leading to overcrowding. This eventually resulted in a stampede, prompting the arrest of Prophetess Naomi, CEO of Agidigbo FM Oriyomi Hamzat, and the school principal, Fasasi Abdullahi.
Femi Branch expressed his view on the incident in a social media post, arguing that parents who smuggled their children into the event should be held accountable. He pointed out that some parents threw their children over the fence to gain access, putting them in harm’s way.
Branch defended the organizers, stating that their intentions were good and blaming them for the tragedy was unfair. Instead, he called for accountability from the parents who ignored safety rules, leading to the chaos.
The stampede is a tragic reminder of the importance of safety and crowd control during events, as well as the responsibility of both organizers and attendees.
“According to the report, people slept overnight. They were throwing their children over the fence. How is this the fault of the organisers? Is it a problem to do good in this country right now because we are dealing with so much, and the people once in a while, from the little they have, also touch people’s lives?
He urged the authorities to focus on the parents involved in the incident, asking, “I think people need to speak up about this. Why have the police not fished out those parents who threw their children over the fence and also charged them? Because as far as I am concerned, they are the offenders, not the organisers.
“The facts are clear. It is unfair for Oriyomi Hamzat and prophetess Naomi to be remanded on this matter. These people should be set free.”
