Tragedy or treachery? Naomi’s mother demands mercy for her daughter amid legal ordeal

DDM News

As the families of the victims of the recent stampede in Ibadan continue to grieve the loss of their loved ones, Mrs. Funmilayo Ogunseyi, the mother of Naomi Silekunola, the former wife of the Ooni of Ife, has made an emotional appeal to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in her daughter’s legal case.

Naomi Silekunola is one of three individuals facing charges in connection with the tragic incident, which resulted in the deaths of 35 children during a funfair event in Ibadan last week.

The accused, including Naomi, were arraigned before the Iyaganku Magistrate Court in Ibadan, where they were remanded in prison.

The charges against them include conspiracy, negligent acts leading to harm, and failure to provide proper security and medical care at the event.

As the case continues to unfold, Naomi’s mother has taken to social media, pleading for leniency and urging the authorities to recognize that her daughter’s actions were motivated by goodwill, not malice.

In a heartfelt video that has since gone viral, Mrs. Ogunseyi sobs as she begs for mercy, stressing that her daughter had only gone to Ibadan to help those in need.

She explains that Naomi, who has spent over a decade organizing humanitarian outreach programs across Nigeria, never intended for anything disastrous to occur.

Mrs. Ogunseyi insists that her daughter’s philanthropic work, aimed at helping vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and pregnant women, was always grounded in compassion.

The grieving mother expressed sorrow for the families who lost their children in the stampede, affirming that the tragedy was an accident and that Naomi had no intention of causing harm.

“Please, have mercy on me.

“I implore the mothers of Nigeria, come to my rescue,” she pleaded, visibly distressed.

“My child only came to Ibadan to offer assistance.

“She’s not guilty.

“Naomi has always been involved in outreach across the country, helping children and vulnerable individuals.

“It was never her intention to cause harm.”

Mrs. Ogunseyi recounted the chaotic events leading to the stampede, noting that Naomi was not present when the crowd started to gather early in the morning, well before the event’s scheduled 10 a.m. start time.

According to Diaspora digital media (DDM) account, the crowd began to grow uncontrollable as early as 6:30 a.m., long before Naomi arrived.

Mrs. Ogunseyi received a call about the disorder while she was still asleep and rushed to the scene, where she and Naomi’s elder brother tried to report the situation to the police.

Unfortunately, despite their efforts to prevent further escalation, Naomi was detained and later charged with murder, even though she was not at the venue when the chaos began.

Mrs. Ogunseyi’s emotional plea also revealed that Naomi’s health had deteriorated during the interrogation process.

Naomi, reportedly unwell, fainted during questioning and has remained in custody despite her fragile state.

“She is ill, she is fragile, and yet they’ve taken her to prison.

She is innocent. I don’t know where to turn.

I am begging the powerful people of this country, including President Tinubu, to help my child,” Mrs. Ogunseyi said, tears streaming down her face.

Describing the situation as part of a larger conspiracy, Mrs. Ogunseyi hinted that Naomi’s detention might be influenced by powerful figures with ulterior motives.

She claimed that the presence of numerous policemen at the court and the rumors that Naomi’s predicament was the result of an “order from above” suggested that there were forces at play working against her daughter.

The grieving mother also expressed her deepest sympathies for the families of the children who died in the tragic incident.

She reiterated that the tragedy was unintentional and that Naomi’s only aim was to show compassion to those in need.

As the legal proceedings continue, many are left questioning whether Naomi should be held responsible for a disaster that appeared to be beyond her control.

Mrs. Ogunseyi’s tearful appeal for mercy has sparked a broader conversation about accountability, intention, and the role of humanitarian efforts in such tragedies.

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