A distraught mother, identified as Mrs. Adijat Adewumi, also known as Iya Ola, whose two daughters perished in a stampede last Wednesday, has described the unsightly event. The incident happened during a children’s funfair at Islamic High School in Bashorun, Ibadan, Oyo State. What should have been a day of celebration descended into tragedy, killing 35 children and gravely injuring six more.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
According to The Vanguard, it was reported that the funfair was organized by Prophetess Naomi Silekunola, the ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife, and was initially designed to accommodate 5,000 attendees. Heavily promoted, particularly on Agidigbo FM, the free event offered promises of gifts and scholarships, attracting people from distant locations eager to participate.
Mrs. Adewumi, a victim of the tragedy, recounted the devastating incident and the events leading up to it during an interview with Saturday Vanguard. Her voice, filled with sorrow, painted a picture of a mother struggling to cope with the unimaginable loss of her children.
She said, “just a few days before the funfair, I received a vision from a pastor of a white garment church, a man I had never met. He urged me to observe three days fasting and prayer. I didn’t think much of it at the time; I thought it was just a spiritual exercise, not a warning of the tragedy that awaited me.
I learnt about the event through Alhaji Oriyomi Hazmat’s popular programme. It felt like a chance for my children to enjoy themselves, to forget about our struggles, even if just for a day.”
She said when they arrived at the entrance, everything seemed normal, but then chaos broke out shortly, the crowd became wild, and she had to push her way through, making sure her children got inside first. She was so eager for them to enjoy every moment, but as the gates were opened, it was like a flood of people surged forward, all at once. The force of the crowd was overwhelming, and she suddenly fell to ground but struggled to get up back.
In the blink of an eye, she said she lost sight of her children, and she began shouting their names, desperately trying to find them, but the noise was so loud, and overshadowed her voice.
She said, “In those terrifying moments, the realisation of the spiritual warning came crashing down on me. If only I had listened more closely. If only I had understood that this was a warning. The stampede claimed my children, leaving me traumatized.”
Further talking, he said, “The pain is indescribable. It’s like losing a part of my soul. I am a Muslim, but I believe God speaks to us in different ways. I wish I had been more vigilant and responsive to that prophesy, she lamented, her heart heavy with grief.”CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
