Group Demands Justice for Humanitarians Held Over Tragic Ibadan Incident
Yoruba elders under the Kaaro Oojiire Omo Oodua Foundation (KOOOF) have described the detention of former queen Naomi Silekunola, broadcaster Hamzat Oriyomi, and school principal Abdullahi Fasasi as an abomination and a blemish on Yorubaland.
The trio has been held in custody following the tragic incident in Ibadan two weeks ago, where 35 minors lost their lives during a chaotic funfair. The elders condemned their detention, calling for their immediate release and questioning the fairness of the justice system.
In a statement by the group’s chairman, Asiwaju Olu Mayungbe, the foundation expressed outrage, stating, “Going to a month, Queen Naomi has been incarcerated, a situation deemed an abomination and a blemish on the Yorùbá race. We weep for the Yorùbá people, humanitarian givers, families of the victims, and those wrongly remanded.”
The group criticized authorities for allegedly ignoring the role of parents who threw their children over a fence during the chaos, resulting in the deaths. “Instead, the humanitarians who attempted to assist are being unjustly incarcerated and remanded without trial,” Mayungbe added.
The statement also warned that such actions discourage humanitarian efforts in the future. “This blatant disregard for human rights and the Rule of Law sends a chilling message to other would-be humanitarians: that their efforts to provide aid and support to the vulnerable will be met with persecution and incarceration.”
KOOOF urged the government to ensure justice by releasing the detainees immediately, compensating affected families, and addressing the root causes of poverty and economic hardship, which they said are at the heart of the tragedy.
