Mrs. Funmilayo Ogunseyi, mother of Queen Naomi Silekunola, the former queen of the Ooni of Ife, has shared the painful ordeal of her daughter following the tragic stampede at a funfair in Ibadan, which claimed the lives of 35 children.
Speaking in an interview, Mrs. Ogunseyi disclosed that the incident occurred before the event was officially scheduled to begin. Crowds had overwhelmed the venue early in the morning, leading to the tragic stampede.
Queen Naomi, was later detained and has since been remanded at Agodi Custodial Facility in Ibadan following her arraignment.
“We’re begging Nigerians to help us appeal to the parents who lost their children,” Mrs. Ogunseyi said, expressing deep regret over the tragedy.
Naomi’s humanitarian efforts, which have been ongoing for years through her NGO, were intended to bring joy and support to children and vulnerable groups.
Her mother emphasized that the tragedy was unintentional, stating, “The queen loves and helps children, single mothers, old women, and widows. Her intention was pure.”
Mrs. Ogunseyi called on Governor Seyi Makinde to intervene in the matter and pleaded with the families of the victims for forgiveness. She also revealed that Naomi’s condition in custody is deteriorating as she struggles with the emotional weight of the incident.
The event, which was meant to bring happiness to children during the festive season, has left a community in mourning and sparked calls for better crowd control measures at public gatherings.