Ibadan Deadly Stampede: Mother Of Ooni’s Ex-Wife Naomi Appeals To Tinubu For Intervention Over Daughter’s Incarceration

The mother of Naomi Silekunola, a former wife of the Ooni of Ife, has issued a heartfelt plea to President Bola Tinubu and Nigerians to intervene in her daughter’s ongoing legal troubles.

Silekunola is among the three individuals remanded in custody by the Iyaganku Magistrate Court in Ibadan.

They face charges of conspiracy, acts of neglect causing harm, and failure to ensure adequate security and medical facilities at a funfair event where a tragic stampede claimed the lives of 35 children last week.

In a video that has since gone viral, Mrs Funmilayo Ogunseyi tearfully appealed for mercy, describing her daughter’s actions as motivated by compassion.

“Have mercy on me. Mothers, have mercy. Come to my rescue,” Ogunseyi implored. “My child only came to Ibadan to help the needy; this was not her first time. We have travelled across the country helping children and the vulnerable. I sympathize with the families who lost their children; it was never our intention. Please, don’t let Naomi be imprisoned—she is innocent.”

Mrs Ogunseyi highlighted Naomi’s decade-long philanthropic efforts, which have included outreach programmes to support the elderly, children, and pregnant women across Nigeria.

She expressed deep regret over the unintended tragedy, stating, “Have mercy on me. Mothers, have mercy. Don’t let my life be destroyed.”

She shared the events leading up to the tragedy, explaining that crowds had begun to gather hours before the programme’s scheduled start at 10 a.m.

According to her, the stampede started around 6:30 a.m., long before Naomi arrived at the venue.

Mrs Ogunseyi also revealed that Naomi, who was reportedly ill, fainted during a police interrogation and is still in custody despite her fragile condition.

“The programme was supposed to begin at 10 a.m., but people started arriving the day before. By 6:30 a.m., the crowd was out of control.

“Naomi wasn’t even there yet. I received a call about the chaos while I was still asleep. My number was on the event flyer, so I was the one they contacted. Naomi, her older brother, and I went to the police station to report the incident, but she was arrested and later charged with murder,” Ogunseyi explained.

In tears, Ogunseyi made a heartfelt appeal to President Tinubu and other influential Nigerians, pleading for intervention. She claimed that her daughter’s predicament was the result of actions by “powerful individuals.”

“They’ve taken my daughter to prison. The courtroom was filled with police officers. I don’t know where else to turn. They say this is an ‘order from above.’ Please, I beg those in power to release her. She is not a killer; she was only trying to help. Naomi is sick and fragile. President Tinubu, I beg you, please help us,” she pleaded.

Mrs. Ogunseyi also expressed her condolences to the families of the deceased children, stressing that the tragedy was never intended.