The leadership of Agidigbo FM has reacted with shock and dismay after the tragic stampede that occurred at a children’s funfair in Ibadan on December 18, 2024. Many children are feared dead after the chaotic event, which took place at the Islamic High School in the Bashorun area of the city.
The radio station, which had been tasked with promoting the event, has faced public scrutiny over its involvement. However, the station’s management has clarified that it was not the organiser of the event. Instead, it was hired to publicise the children’s funfair, which was organised by the WINGS Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) focused on empowering women and girls.
“We told people to stop coming, but they refused,” said Olayinka Abdulwahab, Agidigbo FM’s director of programming. According to Abdulwahab, the station had received alarming reports early in the morning that a large crowd had gathered outside the event venue.
By 5 a.m. on the day of the event, it was clear that the situation was escalating. Agidigbo FM immediately took action, airing public service announcements warning people not to attend the funfair, but many continued to flock to the location. The radio station employed its full media arsenal, using jingles and announcements to discourage further crowding.
Despite these efforts, the situation soon turned tragic. The stampede reportedly took place during the peak hours of the event, and many children were crushed underfoot as panic swept through the venue. The exact number of fatalities remains unclear, but reports suggest that several young lives were lost in the chaos.
In response to the tragic incident, Agidigbo FM released a statement expressing deep sorrow and offering condolences to the families affected. “We received the news of the tragedy with great shock,” the statement read. “Agidigbo FM extends its heartfelt sympathies to the families of those who have lost loved ones in this horrific event.”
The statement went on to emphasise the station’s role in promoting the event rather than organising it. “Agidigbo FM is not the organiser of the children’s funfair,” it explained. “We were simply contracted to promote the event on behalf of the WINGS Foundation.”
The organisers of the event, according to Agidigbo FM, had taken measures to ensure the safety of attendees, including the mobilisation of security personnel and medical officials. However, the overwhelming crowd proved too much to manage, and the situation quickly spiralled out of control.
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has since weighed in on the tragedy, stating that the organisers of the event have been arrested for questioning. However, the authorities have yet to disclose their identities. Makinde expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and vowed to hold those responsible for the tragedy accountable.
The stampede has sent shockwaves throughout Ibadan and beyond, raising serious questions about crowd control and the responsibility of organisers when managing large public events.
Many parents who attended the event have expressed their anger and frustration, with some claiming that the organisers failed to adequately prepare for the number of people who showed up.
“I arrived with my children early in the morning, but the venue was already overcrowded,” said one mother, who witnessed the tragic events unfold. “The security was overwhelmed, and it quickly became chaotic. I’m just lucky we were able to leave before things got worse.”
As the investigation into the stampede continues, calls for better regulation of public events have grown louder. Experts have stressed the need for improved crowd management strategies to prevent such tragedies from happening in the future.
Meanwhile, Agidigbo FM has reiterated its commitment to keeping the public informed. “We urge the public to avoid spreading fake news,” said Abdulwahab. “For accurate information, people should always reach out to us directly.”
