Ibadan stampede: Hamzat, Naomi must face trial, Makinde insists, says pressure on him to grant suspects leniency
Ayodele Olalere
Oyo State governor Seyi Makinde has insisted that suspects in the stampede that occured in Ibadan and claimed lives of 40 children must face trial in court no matter how highly placed they are.
The stampede occurred during a food palliative and children funfair program at Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan organised by the founder of the Ibadan based Agidigbo FM, Oriyomi Hamzat and ex wife of Ooni of Ife, Naomi Ogunseyi.
The two alongside the principal of the school were subsequently arrested, charged to court and have been in detention at Agodi Correctional Centre.
While speaking on Monday January 6, at the 2025 Annual Interfaith Service for state workers, Governor Makinde said he had received several calls from highly placed individuals asking him for leniency in the suspects. He insisted that the rule of law will be upheld in Oyo State.
Governor Makinde said there are people arguing that since similar incidents happened in Anambra and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and no one has been held responsible for it, he also should not prosecute the arrested suspects.
“In the outgone year, we faced challenges. 2024 started for us here in Oyo State almost on a tragic note. On 16th January 2024, we had an explosion here in Bodija. It even affected my office. The impact was felt all around Ibadan. We’re closing it out. Towards the end of the year, we had the stampede at Islamic High School, Bashorun. 35 innocent souls were lost; may we not see such again in Oyo State,” Makinde said
On calls for leniency, Makinde said while the court has the right to grant bail to.the suspects, the state government will ensure they are prosecuted.
“Quite a number of people have been reaching out to me, saying, ‘Oh, this incident happened in Anambra State. It also occurred in the FCT. Nobody went to jail. Why is it that in Oyo State, some people are going to jail?’ I said, ‘Well, Oyo State is not Anambra State, and no matter how highly placed, justice must be done.’
The judiciary is here. It’s in their court. If you think you can grant bail pending trial, I have nothing against it. But for the trial, the people must go on trial.
So, people come to me, and I’ve been saying to them, ‘Oyo State, even if this entire country decides not to follow the rule of law, in Oyo State, we will follow; we will dare to be different,” he said.
