Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has ordered the immediate sealing of the Crown Emirate Hotel in Ikere-Ekiti, where three persons, including two students of the Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology (BOUESTI), lost their lives in a stampede following a post-convocation party. The court also directed the Director of Public Prosecutions in Ekiti State to take over the case from the police, signalling that the state government intends to treat the matter with the utmost gravity.
The tragedy unfolded in the early hours of April 19, 2026, at the Emirate Hotel in Ikere-Ekiti, a town located about 70 kilometres from the state capital. The victims were identified as a fresh graduate of BOUESTI, another student who was the sibling of the graduate, and a member of the hotel’s staff. The incident occurred after a night of celebration following the university’s convocation ceremony, which had been held earlier that day, Saturday, April 18.
According to a preliminary investigation by the police, a large crowd of new graduates and undergraduates had gathered at the hotel for a post-convocation party. The atmosphere, initially one of joy and celebration, took a tragic turn when two yet-to-be-identified students became embroiled in a heated argument that quickly escalated into a physical fight. Witnesses reported that during the altercation, some individuals allegedly began brandishing sharp objects, causing mass panic among the guests. In a desperate attempt to flee the perceived danger, a rush for the exits ensued, leading to a chaotic stampede. The police confirmed that two of the victims died from the crush of the stampede, while a third was reportedly attacked during the ensuing violence.
The Ekiti State Police Command, under Commissioner Falade Adegoroye Michael, immediately launched a full-scale investigation into the incident. The police spokesperson, SP Sunday Abutu, confirmed the details of the tragedy, noting that the bodies of the deceased had been deposited in a morgue for autopsy. “The CP, while sympathising with the relatives and friends of the victims, calls for calm, as no stone will be left unturned concerning the unfortunate incident,” the statement from the command read.
The university management swiftly distanced itself from the event, clarifying that the party was an independent, off-campus celebration organised by the graduands themselves. The Registrar, Mrs. F.A. Adeusi, in a statement, expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of two of its graduates and one student. “We wish to categorically state that no stampede or violent incident occurred at the convocation venue or within the university premises during or after the ceremony,” the statement read. “The incident being referenced took place at a private off-campus location... The university community mourns this painful loss and sympathises with the families.”
The legal response to the tragedy was swift. The police charged 12 suspects in connection with the stampede, bringing them before Chief Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun. The prosecutor, Mr. Martins Akala, filed a motion ex parte requesting that the suspects be remanded in correctional custody for 30 days to allow for further investigation. The suspects were formally charged with conspiracy, criminal negligence, and manslaughter, supported by a 10-paragraph affidavit.
In a significant development, Barrister Kunle Adeyemo, the Deputy Director of Legal Services for Ekiti State, appeared in court, informing the magistrate that he had the authority of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dayo Apata (SAN), to take over the prosecution of the case. The Chief Magistrate granted this request, ordering that the Crown Emirate Hotel be sealed with immediate effect and that the Director of Public Prosecutions take over the matter. The case has been adjourned until May 19, 2026.
The tragic incident has raised urgent questions about crowd control and safety measures at private events in the state. The quick intervention of the state government in taking over the case signals a determination to ensure that negligence leading to loss of life is met with the full force of the law. As the families of the three victims mourn and the community of Ikere-Ekiti reels from the shock, the upcoming court proceedings will be closely watched as a test of accountability in the wake of this preventable tragedy.
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