By: Bayero Ade
The Oyo State Government is under growing pressure to release Naomi Silekunola, the former wife of the Ooni of Ife, who is being detained over the tragic deaths of 35 children in a stampede during a funfair in Ibadan.
Silekunola, widely known for her philanthropic work, has been remanded along with two others. They face charges of conspiracy, negligence causing harm, and failing to provide adequate security and medical services at the event.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has strongly criticized Silekunola’s detention, describing it as unjust and unnecessary. In a statement, NANS condemned the government’s handling of the incident, blaming systemic issues like poverty and hunger for the tragedy.
“Silekunola, a known philanthropist, should not be punished for her efforts to support vulnerable communities,” the student body said.
NANS further argued that the stampede highlights the government’s failure to ensure adequate security at public gatherings and address the root causes of such incidents. They compared the Ibadan tragedy to similar stampedes in the Federal Capital Territory and Anambra during food distribution events, where no prosecutions were pursued despite multiple fatalities.
The continued detention of Silekunola, NANS warned, risks discouraging others from engaging in charitable activities to assist vulnerable populations.
The student body has called for Silekunola and her co-defendants to be released immediately, emphasizing that their prolonged detention sets a dangerous precedent for philanthropy in Nigeria.
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