Edo: CRPP condemns Children’s Day stampede, demands apology, compensation for victims

By Jethro Ibileke

The Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) has condemned the Children’s Day stampede at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, in Benin, Edo State on Wednesday, May 27, 2026.

Recall that scores of students, mostly girls sustained varying degrees of injuries in a stampede that occurred during the commemoration of the Children’s Day, organized by the State Ministry of Education.

CRPP in a strongly worded statement on Friday, by its national chairman, Dr. Samson Isibor, stated that the incident exposed Governor Monday Okpebholo-led government as “very weak and lacking in crowd control mechanism”.

“Reports had it that some male students of a government secondary school that is notorious for cultism, invaded the venue and allegedly attempted to force themselves on female students, which allegedly triggered the use of pepper spray by Bouncers.

“Sadly, over 50 students (mostly female) were seriously injured and collapsed in a stampede resulting from the pandemonium. Besides, unconfirmed reports had it that two (2) students lost their live. Videos and pictures of the sad event have since gone viral on the internet, not minding the denial of the government in power.

“This tragedy has again exposed Governor Monday Okpebholo-led government as very weak and lacking in crowd control mechanism, and its failure to protect the children, especially the girl-child. It further exposed the government that prides itself as children and youth friendly as mere smoke screen,” the statement said.

It also noted that “the successful invasion on of the stadium by suspected cultists also belied Okpebholo’s claim to having totally obliterated cultism in the state. It is now obvious that he has much work to do on security in the state as cultism and other criminal activities still fester”.

The pressure group wondered why the state government used “non state actors such as Bouncers operated by private companies and are not trained for large crowd control to take control of a ceremony of such magnitude”.

“Why should Government House security personnel allegedly authorize the use of tear gases and pepper sprays to disperse unruly crowds that resorted in the pandemonium and the avoidable trampling of innocent students who tried to escape from the stadium?” Isibor asked

CRPP in the statement demanded an unreserved apology from Governor Monday Okpebholo and his government to Edo children and their parents over what it described as “avoidable calamity perpetrated by incompetent State and non-state actors.”

It also demanded that the state government foots the hospital bills of the victims and also give them adequate compensations commensurate to their respective losses.

Calls made to the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, were not answered.

However, the State Government had in a statement Wednesday night, by Patrick Ebojele, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, rejected what it described as “sensational interpretations, spins, twists, and misinformation dubiously orchestrated to give the government a bad name.”

According to him, “Some excited children resorted to unruly behaviour at one of the gates, an incident that led to some kind of stampede which necessitated one of the bouncers to deploy the use of tear gas to disperse them. In the cause of the pandemonium that ensued, few students sustained injuries.

“The Deputy Governor, Rt Hon. Dennis Idahosa who was physically present at the stadium, rose to the challenge immediately assisting children with first aids; and those requiring further care were taken to the Edo Specialist Hospital where they received appropriate medical attention and are now safely back home with their families,” Ebojele had said.