Police invite NS detain school principal over Ibadan kids’ deaths at end-of-year funfair
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Police in Oyo have detained Abdullahi Fasasi, the principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan, where a stampede led to the death and injury of dozens ofchildren on Wednesday at an end-of-year funfair reportedly organised by Naomi Silekunola, former wife of the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi.
Naomi has also been invited for questioning by the cops along with Oriyomi Hamzat, the proprietor of Agidigbo FM, a popular news and talk radio station in Ibadan.
A statement issued on Wednesday by Agidigbo Director of Programmes Olayinka Abdulwahab insisted that the station did not participate in organising the event.
Fasasi was invited by the police on Wednesday evening and has since been detained, according to a relative who pleaded anonymity, per Vanguard.
He disclosed that Fasasi is being held at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in the Iyaganku area of Ibadan.
“The principal of the school, Mr Abdullahi Fasasi, has been detained by the police. He was invited around 4:00 p.m. yesterday and he honoured the invitation.
“He has been detained since then. He has not been released,” the relative said.
However, Naomi and Hamzat have reportedly not shown up for interrogation, as disclosed by Oyo Police Public Relations Officer Adewale Osifeso,
“We are yet to receive them for questioning. Members of the public will be comprehensively briefed as events unfold,” Osifeso pledged.
The statement Abdulwahab issued on Wednesday said:
“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.
“Amidst the tragedy, the news making the rounds says that Agidigbo FM is the organizer of the children’s 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 a.m. this morning at the venue, Agidigbo FM, the people’s voice, used all media strategies to sensitize the populace with jingles and public service announcements, from that time, that people should stop going to the venue of the funfair.
“The organizers of the event also did all they could 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.”
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