By Divine Sam
The Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) has called on organisers of public events to prioritise safety and security measures in order to prevent tragic incidents like the stampede that occurred recently in Ibadan, which resulted in the loss of young lives.
The stampede, which took place during a children’s carnival at the Islamic High School in Bashorun, Ibadan, reportedly claimed the lives of several children, with others sustaining injuries. The event was organised by Naomi Silekunola, the estranged wife of the Ooni of Ile-Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi.
In a statement released by the President-General of CCII, Chief Sulaimon Ajeniyi Ajewole, the group expressed deep concern over the preventable nature of the tragedy. Ajewole highlighted the importance of ensuring adequate safety measures at events, particularly those that draw large crowds. The CCII also extended condolences to the victims and their families, reflecting on the impact of the stampede just months after another major disaster—the explosion in Ibadan earlier this year—that also resulted in numerous casualties.
The statement emphasised that events involving large gatherings, especially those offering free items or entertainment, tend to attract crowds, partly due to widespread poverty and social issues. The CCII further urged the government at all levels to tackle these root causes of mass gatherings—poverty, illiteracy, and ignorance—in order to reduce such tragedies. Additionally, they urged the authorities to implement policies aimed at improving the living standards of citizens, thereby alleviating some of the social pressures that contribute to these events.
In conclusion, the CCII reaffirmed the need for organisers to implement safety protocols and called for a collective effort to address the underlying social challenges in the country, with a focus on reducing poverty to minimise incidents like the Ibadan stampede.
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