Femi Branch Calls for Parents’ Arrest Over Ibadan Stampede, Demands Release of Queen Naomi and Oriyomi Hamzat
Nigerian actor Femi Branch has strongly criticized the arrest of Queen Naomi Silekunola, Oriyomi Hamzat, and Islamic High School principal Abdullahi Fasasi following the tragic stampede at a Christmas funfair in Ibadan, which resulted in the loss of 35 young lives. The incident occurred when parents, desperate to get their children into the event, reportedly began throwing them over the fence before the venue was officially opened.
Femi Branch, who took to social media to express his views, stated that while he sympathized with the families affected by the tragedy, he believed the responsibility for the deaths should lie with the parents, not the event organizers. He explained that the event was scheduled to start at 10 am, and security personnel were supposed to arrive by 8 am, but parents began arriving the night before and throwing their children over the fence. Branch highlighted the heartbreaking incident of a child who died instantly after being thrown over the fence by their mother.
The actor questioned how the event organizers, who were attempting to create a positive experience for children, could be blamed for the tragedy when the parents’ actions played a direct role in the deaths. He expressed outrage over the fact that Queen Naomi and Oriyomi Hamzat, who were trying to bless the community, were arrested and charged, while the parents who endangered their children’s lives remained unpunished.
Branch continued by condemning the actions of the parents, emphasizing that hunger and hardship should never justify putting a child’s life at risk. He said, “How bad is that hunger? I think we’re sick, we’re not well as a people.” He urged the police to focus on identifying and prosecuting the parents who threw their children over the fence, calling them the “real offenders.”
The actor also warned that punishing the organizers would set a dangerous precedent, and he called for their immediate release. He stressed that the focus should be on those who endangered the lives of the children, not those trying to bring joy and blessings to the community.
Why does Femi Branch believe the parents should be arrested instead of the event organizers?
Femi Branch argues that the tragedy was caused by parents who threw their children over the fence before the event started, endangering their lives. He believes the organizers, who were trying to provide a positive experience, should not be held responsible. Instead, he calls for the parents to be arrested and prosecuted for their actions.
