The Islamic High School Old Students Association has clarified that it was the Oyo State government, through the Ministry of Education, that authorized Agidigbo FM to use the school field, not the school principal.
The association made this statement during a press conference held in Ibadan on Friday evening.
This clarification follows a tragic incident on Wednesday, when a stampede during a children’s carnival at the school resulted in the deaths of at least 35 children.
In the aftermath, the school principal, Mr. Abdullahi Fasasi, was arrested by the Oyo State police, and by Friday, he had not been released.
During the press briefing, the association, led by National President Dr. Bayo Busari, emphasized that it was the Ministry of Education, not the principal, that granted permission for the radio station to use the school premises.
Dr. Busari revealed that Agidigbo FM paid N360,000 to the state government for the use of the field in 2023 and that the state government had also approved the radio station’s use of the premises from November 2024 to October 2025, according to Daily Post.
The alumni group pointed out that the principal had no authority to grant permission for the use of the school premises, as this responsibility lies with the state government.
They expressed concern over the principal’s detention, stating that he had been held for over 48 hours without being charged, which they described as a violation of his rights.
The association also raised questions about the treatment of other individuals involved in the event. They noted that Alhaji Oriyomi Hazmat, the owner of the radio station, had not been arrested, despite his role in organizing the carnival.
Additionally, they mentioned that Queen Naomi Silekunola had been arrested in connection with the incident.
The association argued that the principal had merely advised the radio station to implement necessary safety measures and should not be held responsible for the tragedy. They criticized the continued detention of the principal, calling it unfair and unjust given the circumstances.
“The principal did not approve the usage of the school. It is the state government through the ministry of education that usually grants the approval and that has been the practice.
“The principal has been detained for more than forty eight hours and he has not been charged to court as of today.
“Today is Friday and it has been more than forty eight hours since he was arrested.
“That is a violation of his fundamental human right. The principal has been arrested since Wednesday and the owner of the media partner of the event, Alhaji Oriyomi Hazmat has not been arrested. We understand that Queen Naomi Silekunola has been arrested.
“We have documents that show that the state government is the one that has been approving the school premises for usage and not the principal.
“They pay a certain amount of money and they grant them the approval. The approval comes from the ministry and not the principal.
“Last year the radio station paid a sum of N360,000 to use the school premises through one Adebowale Mukaila. The state government has been collecting money from event organisers who want to use the school. it is not the principal.
“We are also aware that the state government through the ministry of education has granted the radio station the approval to use the school from November 2024 till October 2025.
“The principal in his letter to the radio station had advised the station to put necessary measures in place to prevent unforeseen circumstances.
“So, why is the police still holding the principal when the owner of the radio station has not been arrested? This is unjust and unfair”.
