Ibadan Mega Voice (IMV) has commiserated with Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin; Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde and especially the family of victims of stampede that occurred at children funfair at Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan last week Wednesday.
In a statement issued by IMV president, Aare Kola Olomide, the association expressed its condolences to those who lost their lives and the injured affected by the heartbreaking occurrence.
“In the wake of the tragic incident that occurred during the Children’s Funfair at Islamic High School, Bashorun, we at Ibadan Mega Voice (IMV), an association of Ibadan indigenes in the communication field, extend our deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. We also share in the pain of those injured and affected by this heartbreaking event. Your grief is deeply felt by every member of our association, and we stand with you in these trying times.” The statement reads.
Olomide, while commending Oyo State Government for its quick intervention on the sad occurrence, called for thorough investigation amid proper respect for human rights.
The statement further reads:
“We commend the Oyo State Government for their swift intervention during this crisis. Their timely response helped to manage the situation and provided critical support to the affected families.
“We are aware of the ongoing investigation and the arrests and questioning of individuals connected to the tragic incident, including Olabode Anisoloja, a staff member of Agidigbo FM and also a member of IMV; Mr. Fasasi, the Principal of Islamic High School; Dr. Oriyomi Hamzat, who, despite being hospitalized, presented himself for questioning; and Queen Naomi, the event organizer whose genuine intention was to celebrate children. While justice must be served, we urge the authorities to conduct their inquiries with fairness and respect for the human rights of all involved. Justice can only be achieved through careful and unbiased processes—not by compromising the dignity of those being questioned.
“As an association, we express deep solidarity with Dr. Oriyomi Hamzat, one of our own, who has been profoundly affected by this incident. Dr. Hamzat has always been a passionate advocate for children. His unwavering commitment to their well-being began long before his rise to prominence and has continued throughout his career. His emotional devastation over this tragedy reflects his deep empathy and love for children, which is at the core of his work.
“To those spreading misinformation or assigning blame, we urge caution. This is not a time to fuel division but a time to come together in shared sorrow and work toward solutions that prevent such tragedies from recurring. Dr. Hamzat, through Agidigbo FM, has always championed the causes of the vulnerable, and this incident has hit him as hard as anyone else, if not harder. Let us remember the man who has consistently dedicated his life to serving others, especially children, even when he had little to give but his time and voice.
“We stand by the families, the injured, and all affected. This moment calls for unity, compassion, and a commitment to ensuring such a tragedy never happens again.
Ibadan Mega Voice is an assemblage of media professionals who are indigines of the ancient brown-roof city with over 500 members home and abroad cutting across print, electronics, public relations, advertising, media marketing, online publishing, theatre and media lecturing among others.