Nollywood actor Femi Branch has called for the arrest and prosecution of parents who smuggled their children into a funfair event in Ibadan, Oyo State, where a stampede tragically claimed over 40 lives.
In a video shared on Instagram on Wednesday, Branch expressed his views on the incident, which reportedly left at least 35 children dead.
The event, held at Islamic High School in the Bashorun area of Ibadan, was organized by Prophetess Naomi Silekunola, the ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife, and Dr. Oriyomi Hamzat, the CEO of Agidigbo FM.
Both organizers, along with the school principal, Fasasi Abdullahi, have been remanded in custody by a magistrate’s court.
Although the funfair was planned to accommodate 5,000 attendees, reports indicate that many parents smuggled their children into the venue, some allegedly throwing them over the school fence without the organizers’ authorization. Branch argued that these parents should be held accountable for the tragedy.
“It is unfair to blame the organizers for this tragic incident when reports show that some parents threw their children over the fence and have not been held accountable,” he said.
Branch emphasized that his comments were not meant to undermine the gravity of the children’s deaths but to highlight where responsibility truly lies.
“This is not about being insensitive to the loss of these children. It’s tragic. But if we are seeking accountability, why blame the organizers? People camped overnight and resorted to extreme measures to enter the venue. How is this the fault of those who organized the event to give back to the community?” he questioned.
The actor also criticized the continued detention of Hamzat and Silekunola, describing it as unjust.
“Why have the authorities not identified and prosecuted the parents who breached the event’s security by throwing their children over the fence? They are the offenders here, not the organizers. Oriyomi Hamzat and Prophetess Naomi should be released immediately,” Branch added.
