The Oyo State government is facing increasing pressure to release Naomi Silekunola, the former wife of the Ooni of Ife, who was detained following the tragic deaths of 35 children in a stampede during a funfair in Ibadan.
Silekunola, a renowned philanthropist, has been remanded alongside two other individuals, facing charges of conspiracy, negligence causing harm, and failing to provide adequate security and medical services during the event.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has been particularly vocal, condemning the detention of Silekunola as wrongful and unnecessary.
In a statement, NANS criticized the government’s failure to address the underlying issues of poverty and hunger, which they believe were key factors in the stampede.
The student body stated that Silekunola, known for her extensive charitable work, should not be penalized for her philanthropic efforts.
NANS further argued that the tragedy shows the government’s neglect of its responsibilities to ensure adequate security during large gatherings and to address systemic issues such as hunger.
They pointed to similar incidents in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Anambra, where stampedes during food distribution also led to fatalities, but no prosecutions were initiated.
The ongoing detention of Silekunola has sparked concerns that it could discourage other well-meaning individuals from supporting vulnerable communities in the future.
NANS has called for the immediate release of Silekunola and her co-defendants, stating that their continued detention would set a dangerous precedent for philanthropy in Nigeria.