Oriyomi Hamzat, the owner of Agidigbo FM, is currently hospitalized after witnessing the tragic stampede at a children’s Christmas event in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The event, which was held at the Islamic High School in Bashorun on Wednesday, turned into a nightmare when over 7,500 children and adults overcrowded the venue meant for 5,000.
As the stampede broke out, Hamzat, who had been promoting the event through his radio station, was visibly shaken and collapsed.
He was rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention.
At least 35 children lost their lives in the chaos, with many others left critically injured.
The police confirmed the deaths and are investigating the incident.
The tragedy has left the community in deep shock, especially after Hamzat, who had been involved in the event, witnessed the heartbreaking scene unfold.
Sources said Mr Hamzat is yet to recover since Wednesday morning after what happened at the children’s party.
“He(Mr Hamzat) was truly at the event. But when the stampede started and children were collapsing, he could not withstand that ugly scene. So he also fell and he is currently at the hospital,” a source privy to the incident told SaharaReporters.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Police have arrested Queen Naomi Silekunola Ogunwusi, the former wife of the Ooni of Ife, along with several others.
Naomi, who was a key sponsor of the children’s Christmas event, was taken into custody for her role in organizing the ill-fated gathering.
The event, organized by the Wings Foundation in partnership with Agidigbo FM, was meant to bring joy to the children but ended in disaster when overcrowding and lack of proper organization led to a deadly stampede.
The police have also arrested six other individuals, including the principal of the Islamic High School, Fasasi Abdulahi, and several event organizers.
The state government has promised to take all necessary steps to prevent such a tragedy from happening again.
