A tragic incident on Wednesday reportedly led to the loss of many young lives during a stampede at a carnival in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State.
It was gathered that the unfortunate event took place in the Bashorun area of Ibadan.
As of the time of this report, the exact number of casualties remains unclear. However, it has been reported that the injured children have been swiftly transported to various hospitals throughout the Ibadan area.
Henzodaily learnt that the carnival was scheduled for Wednesday, but some parents brought their children to the site on Tuesday, while others arrived early on Wednesday.
The rush to gain entry into the venue triggered the stampede, resulting in fears of numerous fatalities among children.
See a video clip from the incident below:
While the state command of the Nigeria Police Force has yet to issue any official statement regarding the incident, the Oyo State Government has acknowledged the incident in an official statement.
The Oyo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, confirmed the occurrence and indicated that the state government is actively addressing the situation.
He said: “A stampede occurred at the private children’s fun fair held at Basorun Islamic High School, leading to loss of lives, mostly children, with some others injured in the early hours of today.
“The State Government swiftly mobilised a rapid response team following the breaking of the incident.
“Victims have been swiftly transported to various hospitals within the Ibadan metropolis for medical attention.
“Parents who are concerned about the whereabouts of their children are urged to check the following medical facilities in Ibadan where children affected were taken for proper medical attention with valid means of identification:
– Patnas Hospital, Basorun
– Western Hospital, Basorun
– Ringroad State Hospital
– Molly Specialist Hospital
– University College Hospital (UCH).”