The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has commiserated with families and victims of the recent Ibadan Christmas funfair at Basorun High School in Ibadan, Oyo State.
He also sympathised with the traders of Araromi auto spare parts market, Agodi Gate, Ibadan, over the fire outbreak that occurred in the early hours of Saturday.
About 35 children were confirmed dead while six others sustained varying degrees of injuries at Xmas funfair stampede at Basorun High School, while goods and property worth millions of naira were also destroyed by an early morning fire incident on Saturday.
Adelabu, in a statement on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Strategic Communication and Media Relations, Bolaji Tunji, in Ibadan, the state capital, expressed sadness over the two incidents, describing them as heart-wrenching.
The minister further described both incidents as a sad moment at the onset of the festive period, considering the number of children who lost their lives at the Funfair celebration and the loss of goods and property worth millions of naira in the inferno.
He said, “I am deeply saddened by the incident that led to the death of these young children who are supposed to be the future of our country with a good future ahead of them.
“Waking up early this morning (Saturday) to also hear the sad news of the fire incident at the Araromi spare parts market also cast a black shadow in what should have been a period of celebration.
“May the Almighty God console the parents of these minors and those who sustained losses in the fire incident,” he prayed.
Adelabu urged the various stakeholders, including the security agencies, to learn from the sad incidents in order to prevent future occurrences.
“However, we can only move forward and urge all concerned stakeholders, agencies of government and security in the state to learn from this disastrous incident and work out proper modalities to avoid future occurrences.
“We should remain vigilant, be more security conscious and adequately address the root causes of all these unfortunate incidents.
“During these trying times in our state, my thoughts and prayers are with all the victims of both incidents. I prayed for the repose of all the lost souls and that these situations will make us even stronger and better as a state,” he added.
.
