Police arrest Ooni’s ex-queen, others as death toll hits 35

The Oyo State Police Command has disclosed the arrest of the ex-queen of the Ooni of Ife, Naomi Silekunola; the Principal of Islamic High School, Ibadan, Fasasi Abdulahi; and six others in connection to the death of some children during a stampede at a funfair in Ibadan, the state capital, on Wednesday. The ex-queen was named as the main sponsor of the event. More so, the number of children who have died from the stampede has risen to 35 while six others are critically injured, according to a statement issued on Thursday by the State Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso. The event which was held at the Islamic High School, Basorun, Ibadan, was made available to 5,000 children but the number that turned up was reportedly over 7, 500, according to investigations by PUNCH Metro. Details later…

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10 dead, seven injured in Oyo building collapse

Ten bodies have been recovered from the rubble of a collapsed building in the Jegede, Olunloyo area of Ibadan, Oyo State, while several others sustained injuries. The tragic incident occurred early Thursday, prompting a swift response from emergency services. The General Manager of Oyo State Fire Service, Yemi Akinyinka, stated that the agency received a distress call from local residents around 2 a.m., alerting them to the collapse. “As of this morning, 10 persons have been recovered from the debris, while seven individuals were rescued alive,” Akinyinka reported. Rescue efforts remain ongoing as emergency responders continue to search for potential survivors. The police confirmed the incident in a separate statement, assuring the public that security measures have been strengthened around the area to prevent unauthorized access and protect nearby residents and property. “Adequate security is currently in place to prevent hoodlums from taking over the scene and to protect lives and property,” the statement read. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the collapse and the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

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