While reactions continue to trail the crush that ended the performance of the Nigerian Afro-pop singer and breakaway act, Asake, in London, especially the death of Rebecca Tosin Ikumelo, a 33yr old lady from Newham, East London, a Nigerian, who is a resident in the country has blamed the event organisers.
Recall that Freelanews reports how eight people were hospitalised with others in critical condition as Asake takes over London O2 Academy in Brixton.
An anonymous source, who spoke to Freelanews, has expressed disappointment at the choice of arena used for the concert.
“Using Brixton O2 for the concert is like taking a Pasuma show to Mushin and expect the touts to pay for entry; it can’t happen!” he said.
The source further revealed that Brixton used to be a home for touts and layabouts in South London, a part of the London Borough of Lambeth, England.
“I’m still confused as to how such could have happened in the first place because Brixton is now gentrified despite its rough history. Infact, nobody can afford to buy a house in Brixton anymore.
“Don’t get it confused. The place Asake played was not the same venue or at par with where the likes of Whizkid and Davido held their concerts,” he continued, “This is an arena where most forgotten stars in the country are given a platform to continue to ply their trades.
“So many things are then expected to be different at such venue, which included the prices and security architecture.”
He believed that the promoters’ choice of venue must have been influenced by greed.
“Those organisers must be very greedy and therefore exposed innocent Nigerians and fans to danger and death.
“This is infact the reason top artistes in Nigeria wont agree to play anywhere if they’re unsure of the safety of their lives and that of their fans.
“Did you remember a promoter who once called out K1 (Wasiu Ayinde Marshal) for breaching contract after the singer collected money sometimes ago? K1 has gotten to a point in his life that he can’t just play anywhere. What must have happened was that K1 realised that the area didn’t look safe,” he disclosed.
However, in a post on his verified Instagram handle earlier, Organise crooner has publicly apologised to his fans who got injured during a break-in at his concert on Thursday in London, England.
He apologised to his fans who missed the end of his performance as well as the other eight victims who were taken to the hospital.
He wrote, “My heart is with those who were injured last night and caused any form of discomfort. I pray you get well soonest. I am also in the process of reaching out to individuals.
“I still do not have the full brief from the venue, management themselves as to what led to the disruption at the entrance of the Brixton Academy.
“But we were thankful all was peaceful at the end.”
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According to research by data.police.uk, the annual crime rate in Brixton is 135.86 per thousand population and anti-social behaviour, Violence and sexual offences, and other theft being top of the list.
Ikumelo was declared died in hospital on Saturday morning by the Met as a result of stampede at the gig, which had more than 4,000 people in attendance, while two other women aged 21 and 23 remain in a critical condition.
Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator and a recipient of the D9112 Superstar Icon Award, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
