Funmilayo Ogunseyi, the mother of Naomi Silekunola, a former wife of the Ooni of Ife, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu and compassionate Nigerians to assist her daughter, who is facing legal challenges after a tragic stampede in Ibadan, Oyo State. The incident occurred during a funfair and led to the deaths of 35 children.
Drivetvnews Reports indicate that Naomi, along with two others, was brought before the Iyaganku Magistrate Court in Ibadan. They are accused of conspiracy, negligence, and failure to ensure proper security and medical arrangements at the event. The court has ordered that the accused remain in custody.
In a video shared online, Ogunseyi pleaded for understanding, emphasizing that her daughter’s intentions were to help others and that the tragic events were unintended. She highlighted Naomi’s decade-long efforts to support vulnerable groups, including children, pregnant women, and the elderly, across the country.
Ogunseyi explained that the stampede occurred early in the morning, long before the program’s scheduled start time of 10 a.m. She stated that the crowd had grown uncontrollable by 6:30 a.m., hours before Naomi arrived at the venue. She also suggested that influential individuals might be behind her daughter’s current situation and urged President Tinubu to intervene.
“Please, I ask for mercy. Mothers, I appeal to you—help me so my life is not ruined. My daughter came to Ibadan to assist those in need, and this wasn’t her first time. For years, we’ve traveled across Nigeria, providing help to children and the vulnerable. I deeply sympathize with the families who lost their children; it was never our intention. Please don’t allow Naomi to be punished for something she didn’t cause. She is innocent and only sought to help others.
“The program was supposed to begin at 10 a.m., but people started arriving the night before. By 6:30 a.m., the crowd had become unmanageable, and Naomi wasn’t even present. I was at home when I received a call about the chaos, as my phone number was on the event flyer. Naomi, her brother, and I immediately went to the police to report the situation, but she was detained and later charged with murder.
“My daughter has now been taken to prison. The courtroom was filled with policemen, and I don’t know where else to turn. I’ve been told that her ordeal is due to directives from higher authorities. I beg those in power to release her. She is not a criminal—she came to help. Naomi is fragile and not in good health. President Tinubu, I am pleading with you—please help us,” Ogunseyi said.
