Nollywood actor Femi Branch has spoken out following the stampede in Ibadan, Oyo State, last week, which resulted in the deaths of over 35 people, mostly children.
The stampede occurred during an event at the Islamic High School in the Bashorun area, organized by the ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife. Prophetess Naomi Silekunola Ogunwusi.
The event was meant to accommodate 5,000 attendees but quickly attracted a much larger crowd after news spread of “free entry” and promises of gifts and scholarships.
But news of a “free entry” with promises of gifts and scholarships spread quickly, attracting a large crowd.
By the eve of the event, hundreds had camped outside the school to ensure they gained access.
The stampede led to the arrest and arraignment of Naomi Silekunola, CEO of Agidigbo FM, Oriyomi Hamzat, and the principal of Islamic High School, Fasasi Abdullahi.
In an Instagram post on Wednesday, Branch expressed his view that the real culprits were the parents who smuggled their children into the event, not the organizers.
He emphasized that the organizers intended to do good and said it was unfair to place the blame on them for the tragedy.
Branch questioned why the parents who threw their children over the fence to get into the event had not been held accountable.
He said, “This is not me trying to be insensitive about the plight of the children who died. It is very tragic if the purpose is to blame those people responsible for the deaths. How is it the organiser?
“According to the report, people slept overnight. They were throwing their children over the fence. How is this the fault of the organisers? Is it a problem to do good in this country right now because we are dealing with so much, and the people once in a while, from the little they have, also touch people’s lives?
He urged the authorities to focus on the parents involved in the incident, asking, “I think people need to speak up about this. Why have the police not fished out those parents who threw their children over the fence and also charged them? Because as far as I am concerned, they are the offenders, not the organisers.
“The facts are clear. It is unfair for Oriyomi Hamzat and prophetess Naomi to be remanded on this matter. These people should be set free.”
