IBADAN STAMPEDE: PEPVAN CONDOLES VICTIMS, URGES RELEASE OF VENDORS

 IBADAN STAMPEDE: PEPVAN CONDOLES VICTIMS, URGES RELEASE OF VENDORS

Professional Event Planners and Vendors Association of Nigeria (PEPVAN) has expressed deep sadness and commiseration with the government and people of Oyo state following the unfortunate stampede that led to the death and injury of more than 35 children at the ill-fated Children’s Carnival which happened on Wednesday, 18 December.

The programme which was organized by the Women In Need of Guidance and Support (WINGS) Initiative, an NGO founded by Queen Naomi Silekunola, the former wife of the Ooni of Ife, was originally planned to give out different gifts to 5,000 children in celebration of this year’s Christmas festivities.

However, the huge publicity given to the programme led to more than 7,000 children and guardians, mostly mothers, besieging the Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan venue of the event as early as 6 a.m. 

These attendees struggled to gain entry to the venue at the same time and this led to a stampede which led to the death and injury of many would-be attendees.

PEPVAN, the umbrella body of event planners, vendors, and traditional comperes in a statement issued and jointly signed by the National President, Mr. Adekunle Wonders Adetunji, and the National Secretary, Mrs. Titilope Eleshinla, commiserated with the families of the victims and the Oyo state government on the unfortunate occurrence.

“PEPVAN is deeply saddened by this unfortunate incident which has left a lot of undesirable feelings in its wake. As parents ourselves, we condole the parents in this challenging period and pray that the Almighty God grants them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss,” the statement read in part.

“We also wish the victims who are receiving treatment across various medical facilities speedy and total recovery.”

The association commended the state government for swinging into action immediately to ensure that the casualty figure was quickly contained. It noted that this action demonstrated the commitment of the government to the well-being of the citizenry in the state.

“PEPVAN appreciates the state government and the security agencies for their quick action which ensured that the situation was quickly brought under control. This is indeed encouraging to note as it shows that we have a caring, responsible, and responsive leadership in the state.”

“We also commend the Oyo State Police Command for taking up the matter immediately. The arrests that have been made show that the government is on the side of justice and is ready to ensure that there are no sacred cows.”

Addressing the arrest and detention of PEPVAN members, the association appealed to the state government and the Police authorities to ensure that nobody is unjustly held in connection with the unfortunate incident.

“We understand that an occurrence of this nature will call for thorough investigation which will lead to the arrest, detention, and questioning of different people. We however call on the authorities not to scapegoat any of the arrested people, especially those who are not influential.”

“We appeal to the government and Police authorities to consider releasing PEPVAN members who were only at the venue to discharge the duty for which they were engaged. Our members who were arrested were not part of the organizers. They were only at the venue to render the service they were engaged for and are not part of the organizers.”

“We implore the Police and the state government to look into this and be gracious enough to release our members and other service providers who have been taken in for questioning. They were only doing the work they were engaged for and cooperated with the investigators. We believe in the sincerity of the Police to ensure that no one is unjustly treated arising from this unfortunate incident.”