Oluwaseyi Oyetunbi, a leading voice in humanitarian advocacy, has issued a statement clarifying the tragic deaths of 35 children in Ibadan, which have been widely reported as a result of a stampede. According to Oyetunbi, the real cause of the deaths was not a stampede, but the dire consequence of hunger and deprivation.
The incident, which occurred during a highly anticipated event meant to distribute food to underprivileged communities, has shocked the nation. Initial reports suggested a stampede had led to the fatalities, but Oyetunbi’s in-depth investigation has revealed a far more complex and heart-wrenching cause: the children died due to severe hunger and the overwhelming lack of adequate food supplies at the event.
"It is a devastating tragedy, but it was not a stampede that caused these young lives to be lost," Oyetunbi stated. "What happened in Ibadan was a consequence of systemic neglect, where these children, who were already vulnerable due to food insecurity, found themselves in an environment where the aid they so desperately needed was insufficient."
The event was originally intended to provide much-needed food aid to struggling families in the region, particularly children who are victims of malnutrition and poverty. However, a lack of proper organization, planning, and oversight led to overcrowding and chaos. With limited food supplies and inadequate provisions for the number of people who showed up, the children – many of whom were already suffering from malnutrition – succumbed to exhaustion and hunger, ultimately leading to their tragic deaths.
Oyetunbi has called on both the government and non-governmental organizations to address the root causes of hunger and food insecurity that plague so many communities across Nigeria. "This tragedy is a reflection of a broken system that fails to meet the basic needs of its most vulnerable citizens. It's imperative that we address the larger issues of poverty, hunger, and inequality to prevent such heartbreaking incidents in the future."