Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has committed to ensuring that those accountable for the devastating stampede that resulted in the deaths of 35 minors during a funfair at the Islamic High School, Basorun Ibadan, on December 18, 2024, will face legal consequences.
During the annual interfaith service to inaugurate the year 2025, held at the Governor’s Office Secretariat, Makinde reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to delivering justice for the victims and preventing similar tragedies in the future.
Earlier, eight individuals were arrested in relation to the incident. Among them, three notable figures, including Naomi Ogunwusi, the former queen of the Ooni of Ife, Oriyomi Hamzat, the owner of Agidigbo FM, and Fasasi Abdullahi Babatunde, the principal of Basorun High School, have been remanded in custody at the Agodi Custodial Centre in Ibadan, awaiting a court review later this month.
Addressing concerns regarding the decision to prosecute the event organizers, Makinde acknowledged receiving numerous calls advocating for leniency.
“Thirty-five innocent lives have been lost; we must ensure that such a tragedy never occurs again in Oyo State, by God’s grace,” he emphasized.
He responded to comparisons with incidents in Anambra and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), stating, “While some may say that no one was held accountable in those cases, Oyo State is not Anambra, and we must uphold justice, irrespective of anyone’s position.”
Makinde insisted that the judicial process would be followed: “If the court decides that bail can be granted before the trial, that is within its authority, but a trial is essential.”
“Even if other parts of the country overlook the rule of law, Oyo State will steadfastly uphold it,” he concluded.
