The leadership of Agidigbo FM, the radio station in Oyo that advertised the 2024 Children Fun Fair, has reacted after many children allegedly died in a stampede during the funfair.
The station’s management stated that it had issued announcements requesting that citizens refrain from crowding the Ibadan Children’s Fair venue. However, people kept coming.
Recall that an undisclosed number of people, predominantly children, died on Wednesday, December 18, following a stampede at the funfair held at the Islamic High School in the Bashorun neighborhood of the capital city.
On Tuesday, December 27, Agidigbo FM posted an announcement on Facebook encouraging parents to bring their children.
They stated that Naomi Silekunola, the ex-wife of Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife, hosted the dinner.
However, following the sad events at the funfair, Olayinka Abdulwahab, the director of programming at Agidigbo FM, stated that the broadcasting station had just been hired to publicize the event.
The radio station identified the organizer as the WINGS Foundation, a non-governmental organization (NGO) that helps women and girls. The event was designed to accommodate 5,000 guests.
Abdulwahab stated that when the station learned that a “mammoth crowd” had assembled at the venue by 5 a.m., it aired statements advising people not to go to 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,” according to a statement.
“Amidst the tragedy, the news is circulating that Agidigbo FM is the organizer of the children’s funfair; however, the management wishes to clarify that Agidigbo FM is not the organizer of the event but rather one of the media outlets used to promote it.”
“After receiving notice that a massive crowd had gathered at the venue before 5 a.m. this morning, Agidigbo FM, the people’s voice, used all media strategies to sensitize the populace with jingles and a public service announcement that people should refrain from visiting the funfair venue from that point forward.
“The event’s organizers also did everything they could to mitigate the catastrophe by mobilizing security personnel, medical officials, and other appropriate agencies to assist people affected by this unfortunate occurrence.
“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, stated that the event organizers who resulted in the stampede were arrested for questioning but did not reveal their identities.
