The Old students of Islamic High School, Basorun, Ibadan, have called for the release of the school principal, Mr. Abdullah Fasasi, who was detained by the Oyo State Police Command following the tragic stampede at a children’s funfair held on the school premises.
The National President of the Islamic High School Old Students Association, Mr. Bayo Busari, made the appeal during a press briefing in Ibadan on Saturday.
NewsNGR reported that the stampede, which happened on Wednesday, December 18, led to at least 35 fatalities.
The event was organised by Queen Naomi Silekunola Ogunwusi, the former wife of the Ooni of Ife, in collaboration with Agidigbo 88.7 FM, a popular Ibadan-based radio station, which has since denied its involvement.
Following the tragic incident, the police detained Fasasi, the former queen, and other parties involved in the event.
However, Busari while speaking, commended the police for promptly managing the situation and initiating investigations, but expressed concern over what he described as a “false narrative” which implicated the principal.
He clarified that the approval for the use of the school premises was granted by the Oyo State Ministry of Education, not the principal.
He added that Agidigbo FM informed the principal days before the event about their intended use of the school premises. In response, the principal directed them to seek the necessary approval and payment from the ministry.
According to Busari, the ministry’s approval process typically involves the submission of payment evidence, which authorizes the use of the premises.
He noted that in this case, Agidigbo FM presented proof of payment, which the school accepted in line with established practice.
“The narrative is not true; the Oyo State Ministry of Education gave the approval for the use of the school facility to Agidigbo FM since 2023, and it has been using it for its programme since then.
“The information we have is that some days before the incident, Agidigbo FM approached the principal, informing him that the school facility would be used for the programme, and the principal advised Agidigbo to approach the ministry to get approval and make the necessary payment.
“The usual practice is that once approval has been requested, payment would be made, and they will just come to the school with the evidence of payment, which is proof that authorises the use of the school premises.
“Approval may not come three days or even weeks after the programme would have been held.
“In this instance, the school had the proof that the organiser had made payment to the government, and as usual practice, the principal cannot stop them from using the premises,” Busari said.
Busari criticised a director at the Ministry of Education for allegedly denying the ministry’s knowledge of the programme. He questioned why the principal, who neither organized the event nor approved the use of the venue, was being detained.
“Our demand is that the principal be released, and we are ready to have him released on administrative bail. We will stand as surety for him,” Busari stated.
The alumni association reiterated its support for a thorough investigation into the tragedy but urged authorities to focus on the actual organisers and approval processes to ensure justice is served.