Ibadan Stampede: Woman who lost 2 kids regrets not heeding spiritual warning

A heartbreaking tragedy has clouded the holiday season in the lively city of Ibadan, which is renowned for its friendly and energetic community.

After losing both of her children in a stampede at the 2024 End of the Year Children Funfair, Mrs. Adijat Adewumi, also known as Iya Ola, is a victim of the catastrophe and is experiencing unfathomable anguish. Love, loss, and the lingering effects of ignored warnings are all themes in her story.

In a somber interview with Sunday (Vanguard News), Mrs. Adewumi described the days before that tragic incident while sitting in her modest house.

A white garment church pastor, a man I had never met, gave me a vision a few days prior to the funfair. He encouraged me to fast and pray for three days. She recalled, “At the time, I didn’t give it much thought; I believed it to be merely a spiritual exercise and not a warning of the tragedy that awaited me.”

Many families in the neighborhood found optimism in the funfair, which was organized by Queen Naomi Silekunola, the former wife of the Ooni of Ife. Mrs. Adewumi saw it as a way to escape the harsh facts of life, particularly during these challenging economic times.

“The well-liked program of Alhaji Oriyomi Hazmat informed me about the event. It seemed like a possibility.

In those terrifying moments, the realisation of her spiritual warning came crashing down upon her like a thunderstorm, saying: “If only I had listened more closely. If only I had understood that this was a warning.

“I am a Muslim, but I believe God speaks to us in different ways. I wish I had been more vigilant and responsive to that call,” she lamented.

Source: Adeola Badru, Vanguard News