In this harrowing account, Envision News Online speaks with Laide, a female survivor of the tragic incident at the Children’s Funfair held at Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan. Over 35 children lost their lives in the stampede that shook the city. Laide, a 30-year-old hairstylist and mother, recounts her experience of that fateful day, offering a poignant perspective on the chaos and heartbreak that unfolded.
Can you introduce yourself?
“My name is Laide. I’m a 30-year-old hairstylist and a mother to a three-year-old child. We arrived at the funfair venue just before 6 a.m., only to find an enormous crowd already gathered. The entrance to Islamic High School, Bashorun, where the event was taking place, was overwhelmed by a mass of over 10,000 people. The density of the crowd was suffocating—it became almost impossible to breathe. I had my three-year-old strapped to my back, but the intense heat was making it unbearable for her.”
What led to the stampede?
“After waiting for hours in the crowded entryway, Mr. Oriyomi Hamzat, one of the event organizers, arrived. Shortly after, the gates were opened, and the crowd surged forward in a chaotic rush. That was when the nightmare began.
My baby fell from my grasp as the crowd pressed in, and she was trampled in the madness. I couldn’t see her amid the chaos, but I could hear her faint cries—her voice nearly drowned by the overwhelming noise. I was trapped on the ground, crushed under the weight of countless bodies, unable to move. My head and body were being trampled as I struggled to free myself and protect my child. Summoning every ounce of strength, I fought to push off those pressing against me, desperate to save her. By some divine intervention…”
What happened after the stampede started?
“As soon as the gates opened, the crowd surged forward in a wild frenzy. People were shouting and pushing, and the energy turned chaotic in seconds. I lost my grip on my child in the turmoil, and she fell to the ground. I was screaming her name, but my voice was drowned out by the noise of the crowd.
I tried to bend down and reach for her, but the press of bodies was too strong. People of all ages—men, women, and even other children—were being shoved and trampled. The weight of the crowd forced me down too, and I was pinned under the crushing mass of people. My head and chest were being stepped on repeatedly, and I could barely breathe.
Through the chaos, I heard my baby crying, but her voice grew fainter with each second. I was desperate and terrified, knowing that if I didn’t reach her soon, she might not survive. My entire body was in pain, but I summoned every ounce of strength I had left. Somehow, I managed to push away a few people enough to free one of my arms and began clawing my way toward her cries.”
Did you manage to save your child?
“By some miracle, I found her tiny body buried under several others. Her clothes were torn, and her face was streaked with dirt and tears. She was barely conscious, but she was alive. I held her as tightly as I could and shielded her from the stampede, even as more people fell on top of us. I kept whispering to her, telling her to hold on, that we would make it out of there alive.
Eventually, the weight on top of us lessened as people started to disperse. I felt strong hands pulling me up—it was some men who had come to rescue those trapped. They helped me stand and carried my child. We were both injured, bruised, and in shock, but we were alive. Many others weren’t as lucky.”
What did you see after the chaos subsided?
“The scene was devastating. The ground was littered with shoes, bags, and personal belongings. There were bodies everywhere—children and adults, lifeless and broken. Parents were frantically searching for their kids, screaming their names. The air was filled with wails of grief and confusion. I remember seeing a woman clutching her lifeless child, refusing to let go even when people tried to help her. It was a scene of unimaginable sorrow and pain.
The organizers and emergency responders eventually arrived to provide help, but for so many, it was already too late. Over 35 children lost their lives that day, and countless others were injured. My heart breaks knowing that so many families are now left with unimaginable loss.”
