Prominent Yoruba elders under the Kaaro Oojiire Omo Oodua Foundation (KOOOF) have strongly condemned the detention of ex-queen Naomi Silekunola, describing it as an abomination in Yorubaland and a stain on the ethnic group.
The elders decried the imprisonment of Queen Naomi, broadcaster Hamzat Oriyomi, and the Principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun, Mr. Abdullahi Fasasi, demanding their immediate release.
They labeled their detention unjust, especially in light of the tragic Ibadan stampede that led to the deaths of 35 minors.
Queen Naomi, formerly married to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Eniitan Ogunwusi, was implicated in the incident, which occurred during a funfair about two weeks ago.
However, in a statement issued by the group’s chairman, Asiwaju Olu Mayungbe, the elders questioned the fairness of the justice system, expressing alarm over the circumstances of her detention.
“Queen Naomi has been incarcerated for nearly a month, a situation that is both an abomination and a blemish on the Yoruba race,” Mayungbe stated. “We mourn for the Yoruba people, the humanitarian givers, the families of the victims, and those wrongly remanded.”
The group criticized the apparent lack of accountability, noting that parents who had reportedly thrown their children over a fence during the stampede leading to their tragic deaths were not being held responsible. Instead, humanitarians who sought to help were unfairly detained without trial.
“This disregard for human rights and the rule of law discourages others from offering support to the vulnerable,” Mayungbe added. “It sends a chilling message that efforts to provide aid could result in persecution and incarceration.”
The elders called on the government to release the detained individuals immediately, provide compensation to affected families, and address the economic challenges that contributed to the tragedy.
They stressed that justice must be served to restore public confidence in the country’s legal system.
