The board of directors at Agidigbo FM, a radio station based in Ibadan, has clarified that the station was not responsible for organizing the funeral ceremony held at the Islamic High School in the Bashorun area, where multiple children tragically lost their lives.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, December 17, 2024.
The event was originally launched by Naomi Silekunola Ogunwusi, the former Ooni queen, as part of her initiative to bring joy to children during the holiday season. Chief Naomi, known for hosting this celebration annually in Akure, chose Ibadan as the location for this year’s event, which unfortunately turned into a tragedy.
Reports indicate that extreme heat at the Islamic High School in Bashorun led to cases of suffocation and fainting among attendees, including children.
Since the news broke, some individuals have directed accusations and insults at Oriyomi Hamzat, the founder of Agidigbo FM, despite the station not organizing the event.
In response, the station’s Head of Broadcasting, Mr. Olayinka AbdulWahab, released a statement on Wednesday evening to address the situation. According to Mr. AbdulWahab, Agidigbo FM only served as a media partner for the WINGS Foundation, which organized the program and used the station to promote the event.
He further clarified that the radio station played no role in planning or hosting the event. “From 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, when we observed the growing crowd at the venue, we began cautioning people not to attend, as the location was already overcrowded,” Mr. AbdulWahab explained.
Despite efforts by the organizers to manage the situation with the help of law enforcement and medical personnel, the tragic incident could not be averted.
“This is a deeply sorrowful day for us at Agidigbo FM,” Mr. AbdulWahab stated. “We appeal to the public to refrain from spreading falsehoods claiming that our station hosted the event.”
He also urged anyone seeking clarity to visit the radio station’s office for a full explanation.
On behalf of Agidigbo FM, Mr. AbdulWahab expressed heartfelt condolences to the families affected by the tragedy and prayed for the recovery of those receiving treatment in the hospital.
