Celebrities have weighed into the stampede in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, which claimed the lives of 35 children and left several others injured.
The tragic incident occurred during an event at Islamic High School in the Bashorun area, organised by Naomi Silekunola, the ex-queen of the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi.
Originally planned for 5,000 attendees, the event attracted an overwhelming crowd after news of free entry, gifts, and scholarship opportunities spread rapidly.
The New Daily Prime earlier reported that hundreds of attendees camped around the school the night before the event to secure early access.
Following the stampede, authorities arrested, arraigned, and remanded Naomi; Oriyomi Hamzat, CEO of Agidigbo FM; and Fasasi Abdullahi, the principal of the school.
Addressing the situation, actor Femi Branch in a video posted on his Instagram page criticised the detention of the organisers, calling it unfair and a violation of their human rights.
Branch argued that the parents who smuggled their children into the venue were the true culprits.
He questioned why the police have not arrested or prosecuted those who allegedly threw their children over the school fence to gain entry, emphasising their role in the tragic outcome.
READ ALSO: Adeniyi Johnson shows support for Naomi
“I want to say quick things about an unfortunate incident that happened in Ibadan that led to the death of 35 children. I was sad when I heard that the organisers, Prophetess Naomi and Oriyomi have been arrested and later heard they were charged to court and be remanded which means they’ll be detained until the next adjournment.
“I’m very curious to hear about the charges and I’m very sure that but on negligence and others but let’s do a quick analysis. I want to believe they have very good lawyers because this case is nonsense and this is not me being insensitive to the plight of the children that died, it is very tragic,”, he said.
The 54-year-old actor explained that the event was scheduled for 10:00 a.m., with security personnel set to arrive by 8:00 a.m. However, he said parents began dropping off their children at the venue as early as midnight.
The Ogun-born actor revealed that when the organisers learned about parents smuggling their wards into the venue at midnight, they rushed to open the venue and began rescuing the children. He remarked, “By that time, there was already a stampede.”
Branch, who ran for deputy governor during the 2023 general election in Ogun State, questioned why the organisers were being blamed for the stampede.
READ ALSO: Ibadan Stampede: Obi urges release of ex-queen Naomi
He asked, “Is it a crime to do good in a country like Nigeria, where people are struggling with hunger and so many other challenges?”
Branch, who also served as the producer, added: “But if the purpose is to punish those responsible for the death, how is it the organisers? Let’s look at the facts on the ground. The event was supposed to start by 10am, the security personnel were supposed to arrive by 8. The venue was locked and wasn’t meant to be open till the security personnel arrived by 8 for an event that was supposed to start by 10.
“From the reports we have, people came overnight, they started arriving overnight and started throwing their children over the fence and into the compound. I saw a very tragic one of the children that as the mum threw them over the fence, the child hit their head and died instantly. So how is this the fault of the organisers?
He called for the immediate release of Naomi and Oriyomi, emphasising that such an unfortunate incident could happen to anyone.
He attributed the root cause of the issue to the hunger and hardship people are enduring under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The actor also pointed out that most of the parents who smuggled their children in were not entirely out of food supplies.
“And now the poor organisers who are trying to be a blessing are arrested, charged to court. What is going on? Don’t tell me you’re just trying to make an example of them. To what end exactly? We need to be careful because we’re setting a very terrible precedent.
READ ALSO: Ibadan Funfair:Detained Ooni’s ex-wife hospitalised
He condemned the actions of parents who smuggled their children into the venue by scaling the fence.
“I think people need to speak up about this. Why have the police not fished out those parents who threw their children over the fence and also charged them? Because as far as I am concerned, they are the offenders, not the organisers.
“The facts are clear. It is unfair for Oriyomi Hamzat and prophetess Naomi to be remanded on his matter. These people should be set free. The government needs to do better because they want to be better to the people and be proactive, so they violate the rights of citizens and abuse the rights of people who have done no wrong.”
Meanwhile, controversial crossdresser Idris ‘Bobrisky’ Okuneye also criticised the remand of the organisers.
Bobrisky, who recently made headlines over allegations of bribing Nigerian Correctional Service (NoS) and Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials during his six-month jail term at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre in Lagos for naira mutilation, stated that the remand of Oriyomi and Naomi deeply saddened him.
The crossdresser, currently out of the country after multiple arrests, remarked, “It breaks my heart to see you go through all this stress just because you want to help. Lord, help that’ll put our life in danger please rescue us.
“My soft heart can’t stop thinking of what you’re going through because I have been there too. I pray God set you free. To help now is now a problem, a person wants to help and she landed in prison. God forbid.”
Another celebrity, Anjy Luminee, stated that Queen Naomi’s actions were solely intended to help the less privileged, with no intention of harming anyone’s child.
“You and I will not be among those travelling on a day when the land demands blood. Please, I beg you, release Queen Naomi. It’s commendable that she consistently performs this act of kindness. Don’t let the innocent suffer for no reason,” the fashion designer pleaded.
