Ibadan stampede: Group pleads for Queen Naomi’s release

A Yoruba socio-cultural group, Omo Oodua Yoruba community, has appealed to Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde and the State Police Command to grant unconditional bail to Princess Naomi Silekunola, the ex-Queen of the Ooni of Ife, and others allegedly involved in the Ibadan stampede that claimed the lives of 35 people, mostly children.

The group, led by President General Dr Garzali Adesokan Saura and Secretary General Hon. Abdulazees Oyeniyi Salaudeen, condemned the tragedy and commiserated with the families of the victims.

They also urged the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, to intervene in the matter, emphasising that all parties involved are his children.

“And we beg Kabiyesi, Baba Ooni to immediately intervene on the issue as we are all his children ile OODUA kogbodo baje.

“While we also condole the bereaved families of those who lost their lives during the stamped a few days to Christmas in Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo, had taken a sizeable chunk of the tragedy.

“Thirty-five persons,( 35) the bulk of whom were kids/ school children, had been trampled to death in a stampede. The dead and a crowd estimated to be about
10,000 had honoured invitation to attend a funfair where freebies, which included the sum of N5,000 would be shared per attendee,” the group maintained.