Ododo condoles Oyo govt over children’s deaths

Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has commiserated with the government and people of Oyo State over the incident that claimed the lives of several young people at a High School in Ibadan.

Ododo’s media aide, Ismaila Isah, in a statement, said the governor was saddened by the stampede in Ibadan that resulted in the death of children at a gathering to mark the festive season.

He also expressed sympathy for the families of children killed in the stampede especially women who were visibly horrified by the loss of their loved ones.

“I want to express my deep sympathy for the government and people of Oyo state where the unfortunate stampede claimed the lives of several young and promising Nigerians,” Ododo said.

“I am saddened that the lives of these promising young Nigerians have been cut short in a stampede at a ceremony in which they were meant to feel the joy of the festive season in Ibadan.

“The death of these children have now brought pain and anguish to families especially mothers who were seen crying after emergency services had pulled bodies from the scene of the incident.

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“Our prayers are with families who lost their loved ones and the government and people of Oyo state in this trying moment.”

Ododo called for crowd control and emergency response improvement in areas where large crowds are unavoidable, especially during this festive season.

Over 5,000 young people are said to have gathered at a High School in Ibadan, Oyo state for a youth festival when the stampede that killed at least 35 children occurred on Wednesday.