CITIZENS COMPASS– Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has vowed to ensure justice for the victims of the tragic stampede that claimed the lives of over 30 children at Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan.
Recall that the stampede occurred during a Christmas funfair programme held in December 2024.
Speaking at the 2025 Annual Inter-Faith Service for state workers, Governor Makinde dismissed calls for leniency, asserting that the rule of law must prevail regardless of public opinion or the status of those involved. He addressed comparisons to similar stampede incidents in Anambra and Abuja, where no prosecutions followed, saying Oyo State will set a different standard.
“People have asked why suspects in this case are facing trial when similar tragedies in other states didn’t result in prosecutions.
“I tell them Oyo State is not Anambra or Abuja. Even if nobody is held accountable elsewhere, justice will be served here. The judiciary will decide bail matters, but the trial must proceed. We are committed to upholding the rule of law, no matter how highly placed the individuals involved may be.”
Reflecting on the past year’s challenges, Makinde referenced the January 2024 explosion in Bodija, which damaged his office and other parts of Ibadan, as well as the devastating stampede. “We lost 35 innocent souls. May we never witness such a tragedy again in Oyo State,” he lamented.
The Ibadan stampede incident has gone viral, culminating in the high-profile remand of Oriyomi Hamzat, owner of Agidigbo FM, and Queen Naomi Silekunola, estranged wife of the Ooni of Ife, over their alleged involvement in the event. Governor Makinde’s insistence on justice has drawn both praise and criticism, but his stance remains firm: “We dare to be different in Oyo State. We will follow the rule of.law.”
