Police Detain Ex-Queen of Ife, Naomi, Following Ibadan Stampede.

The Oyo State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of Naomi Silekunola, former queen of the Ooni of Ife, along with the Principal of Islamic High School, Ibadan, Fasasi Abdulahi, and six others, in connection with a tragic stampede at a children’s funfair in Ibadan.

According to a statement by the State Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, the stampede occurred on Wednesday at Islamic High School in Basorun, resulting in the deaths of 35 children, with six others critically injured. The ex-queen, identified as the event’s primary sponsor, has drawn widespread attention following her arrest.

The funfair, originally planned to host 5,000 children, saw an overwhelming turnout of over 7,500 attendees, exceeding capacity and leading to the fatal stampede. The chaos claimed innocent lives and left several children injured.

The police have launched an investigation into the lapses in planning and crowd control that caused the disaster. Osifeso noted preliminary findings of negligence and vowed to hold all responsible parties accountable.

The principal of the school and six other organizers were also detained as part of the inquiry. Osifeso stated, “We are committed to uncovering the causes of this tragedy and ensuring accountability for all involved.”

The Oyo State Police Command has pledged to implement measures to prevent such incidents in the future, as public demand grows for improved event safety and crowd management protocols.