Ibadan stampede: ‘She’s not a murderer’ — Naomi’s mother begs for daughter’s release

Funmilayo Ogunseyi, mother of Naomi Silekunola, ex-wife of Ooni of Ife, has appealed to Nigerians to intervene in the legal battle involving her daughter.

Ogunseyi said her daughter, who is in custody over a fatal stampede, often seeks to help the poor and vulnerable.

Last Wednesday, over 40 people, mostly children, died in a stampede that occurred during a funfair in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.

On Tuesday, a magistrate court in Ibadan remanded Silekunola and Oriyomi Hamzat, CEO Of Agidigbo FM, over the stampede.

Fasasi Abdullahi, principal of the Islamic High School where the incident occurred, was also remanded.

The police had filed a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, negligent acts causing harm, and failure to provide adequate security and medical facilities, against the defendants.

The event, which was intended to cater to 5,000 students, was organised by Silekunola.

In a video posted on Instagram, Ogunseyi said this is not the first time her daughter would be organising an event for the vulnerable and needy.

A tearful Ogunseyi added that many people had converged on the venue long before the event was billed to kick off, and that her daughter was not at the location when the stampede occurred.

She sent her sympathies to families of the victims, adding that her daughter did not anticipate the tragedy.

“Have mercy on me. Mothers have mercy. Come to my rescue. My child only came to Ibadan to help the needy. This is not her first time. It was never our intention,” she said in Yoruba.

“Please, don’t allow Naomi to be imprisoned. She is innocent. She was only doing humanitarian work.

“Please have mercy on me. Naomi is innocent. She went to the police station herself. They have taken my child to prison. She is not a murderer.

“Please help me beg well-meaning Nigerians and President Bola Tinubu to come to the rescue of my child.”