Naomi Silekunola, the former wife of the Ooni of Ife, has expressed sorrow over the tragic loss of children in the Ibadan stampede.
This comes as the Oyo State Government drops criminal charges against her, Oriyomi Hamzat of Agidigbo FM, and Abdullahi Fasasi, the principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun.
The charges were initially filed following a stampede in December 2024 during a children’s festive party in Ibadan, where at least 35 children lost their lives, News About Nigeria reports.
Naomi, who had remained silent due to court restrictions, shared her thoughts on social media after the case was dismissed.
In her message, she extended her condolences to the bereaved families, praying for their comfort.
She described the incident as heartbreaking, particularly as someone who has always cared deeply for children.
She also thanked the Oyo State Government for understanding the situation and acknowledged the support she received throughout the difficult period.
Naomi reflected on the emotional toll of the past months and expressed gratitude that the legal matter had been resolved.
She prayed for the families affected, asking for strength and healing as they continued to deal with their loss.
“This is a message long overdue, however, with my temporary incarceration and the events that followed, It was an order of the honourable court to be silent on the matter.
“However, through God, in his infinite mercies today, the charges against us were withdrawn after a compassionate consideration from the oyo state government, having considered our intention and our attitude towards all that has happened”, she wrote.
