The former wife of the Ooni of Ife, Naomi Silekunola, has been hospitalised following her arrest over the death of some children during a stampede at a funfair at Basorun Islamic High School in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The stampede had occurred when participants rushed to gain access to the venue of the event reportedly organised by Naomi and popular Ibadan-based broadcaster, Oriyomi Hamzat.

It was gathered that Naomi, who was arrested by the police, reportedly collapsed on Friday, December 20, 2024.

A popular broadcast journalist in Ibadan, Seun Aribikola, revealed this in a post on Facebook on Friday.

Aribikola said Naomi was immediately rushed to the Police Hospital in the Eleyele area of Ibadan for medical treatment.

The broadcast journalist said the ex-queen was taken to the hospital alongside the Chairman of Agidigbo FM, Hamzat.

A senior staff member of the police hospital also confirmed the development.

Police arrest Ooni’s ex-wife, others as Ibadan funfair death toll rises to 35

“Both of them are currently at the hospital. They brought them in today (Friday) but I can’t give you further details because it is a sensitive matter and the police have barricaded the whole hospital,” the hospital worker told Punch.

The operatives of the Oyo State Police Command had arrested Naomi over the children’s funfair stampede.

The principal of the school, Fasasi Abdulahi, and six others were also arrested in connection with the stampede which occurred on Wednesday, December 18.

The Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adewale Osifeso, confirmed the arrest of the suspects and the death of 35 children in a statement issued on Thursday, December 19.

Osifeso said 35 children had so far been documented dead while six others were left injured and on various medical interventions.

Osifeso said the case had been transferred to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku, with the Deputy Commissioner of Police leading the investigation.

The Star