Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has assured the public that those responsible for the tragic stampede that claimed the lives of 35 minors during a funfair at Islamic High School, Basorun, Ibadan, on December 18, 2024, will face trial.
Speaking at the annual interfaith service marking the start of 2025 at the Governor’s Office Secretariat, Makinde reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to justice and pledged to take measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Authorities have arrested eight individuals in connection with the incident. Among those remanded at the Agodi Custodial Centre are Naomi Ogunwusi, the ex-queen of the Ooni of Ife; Oriyomi Hamzat, owner of Agidigbo FM; and Fasasi Abdullahi Babatunde, principal of Basorun High School. Their case has been adjourned until later this month.
Governor Makinde addressed public criticism and calls for leniency, emphasizing that justice must be served. “Thirty-five innocent lives were lost. This tragedy must never be repeated in Oyo State by God’s grace,” he said.
Makinde rejected comparisons to similar incidents in Anambra and the Federal Capital Territory where no one faced prosecution, stating:
“Oyo State is not Anambra. Justice must prevail, regardless of anyone’s status.”
He further clarified that the judiciary would oversee the matter and that bail, if granted, would not preclude a trial. “Even if other parts of the country overlook the rule of law, Oyo State will uphold it,” Makinde declared firmly. The governor’s remarks underline his administration’s resolve to ensure accountability and justice for the victims of the tragic event.
