‘We asked people to stop going’ — Ibadan radio station speaks on stampede, identifies funfair organiser

The management of Agidigbo FM, a radio station in Oyo, said it made announcements asking residents to stop thronging the venue of the children’s funfair in Ibadan, the state capital.

An unconfirmed number of people, mostly children, died on Wednesday after a stampede occurred at a carnival in Ibadan.

The incident occurred at the Islamic High School in the Bashorun area of the capital city.

Reports making the rounds claim that Agidigbo co-organised the event alongside Naomi Silekunola, ex-wife of Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife.

But Olayinka Abdulwahab, the director of programmes at Agidigbo FM, said in a statement that the broadcasting station was only engaged to promote the event.

The radio station named the organiser as WINGS Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that supports women and girls.

The event was organised to cater to 5,000 attendees.

Abdulwahab said when the station got information that a “mammoth crowd” had gathered at the venue by 5 am, it made announcements asking people to desist from going for the funfair.

“This is to inform the general public that the management of Agidigbo FM, Ibadan, received the news of the tragedy that heralded the children’s fun fair at Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan, organized by the WINGS Foundation, with great shock and wholeheartedly commiserates with the families involved,” the statement reads.

“Amidst the tragedy, the news making the rounds says that Agidigbo FM is the organizer of the children funfair, however, the management wishes to state that Agidigbo FM is not the organizer of the event but one of the media outfits used to promote the event.

“Upon receiving the notice that a mammoth crowd had assembled before 5 am this morning at the venue, Agidigbo FM, the people’s voice, use all media strategies to sensitize the populace with jingles and Public service Announcement, from that time that people should stop going to the venue of the funfair.

“The organizers of the event also did all they can to ensure that the tragedy was curtailed by deploying security apparatus, medical officials, and other relevant agencies to come to the aid of those affected by this tragic event.

“This a very sad day for us all, however, we call on the general public to shun the spread of fake news and contact Agidigbo FM, for more information.”

Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo state, had said organisers of the event that led to the stampede have been taken into custody for questioning but did not disclose the identities of the organisers.

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT WINGS FOUNDATION

Checks by TheCable show that the Instagram handle of the Wings Foundation has fliers that promoted the funfair.

“Children Funfair with Queen/Prophetess Naomi Silekunola O,” the information on the flier reads.

Silekunola’s role in the organisation is unclear, but the fliers contain her images, and she also promoted the event across her social media platforms.

“Every year, we have been consistent with our commitment to kids; mostly the underprivileged,” a caption on the flier posted on her Instagram page reads. 

“We have shared our love from town to town, and this year is not about to be an exception. With gladness, I hereby announce on behalf of every member of WINGS FOUNDATION both home and abroad, that this year’s edition, we ride on Eagle’s wings to IBADAN CITY.”

In a live Facebook video she made five days ago to promote the event, Silekunola referred to WINGS Foundation as “my foundation”.

“It is not a religious organisation. It is interdenominational. Whether you’re a Christian, Muslim, or traditional worshipper, you’re welcome on that platform,” she said.

“WINGS is there to give support to every woman whom is weak and needs support and on that platform, there is something we do for children and that is the children funfair.

“This is me inviting every Ibadan child. We are targeting 5,000 so once it’s up to 5,000, we may not be able to accommodate, so it’s first come first served.”

When TheCable tried to visit the website link for the foundation, a security error message, “there are problems with the security certificate for this site,” popped up.