Some students reportedly collapsed during the Children’s Day celebration at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City after being exposed to pepper spray.
The event, held Wednesday to celebrate schoolchildren in Edo State, turned chaotic after some male students allegedly made inappropriate advances toward female students at the venue.
A member of a private security outfit intervened, but the students were said to have regrouped and attacked the bouncer, who responded by spraying pepper spray, affecting several other students in the process.
A parent, Oboh Emmanuel, said the conduct of the students drew the attention of security personnel stationed at the stadium.
“The behaviour of those uncultured students attracted the attention of the bouncers stationed at the stadium as they rebuked the male students,” he said.
Several students, particularly females, reportedly fainted after inhaling the substance, while others were rushed to the Edo Specialist Hospital for treatment.
When a correspondent visited the hospital Wednesday night, two students were still receiving treatment. A medical worker on duty said they would be discharged later that night.
“The medical emergency is not too serious. The students were brought in after inhaling the substance, but they have all been attended to and discharged.
“We have two more here, and they will be discharged this night as they have recovered fully,” the medical worker said.
Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Monday Okphebholo Patrick Ebojele, confirmed the incident and said the security personnel who used the pepper spray had been detained.
He said all the affected students except two had been discharged from the hospital, while the remaining students were being kept under observation.
“The two students are not seriously injured. Doctors want to observe them overnight. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, is still at the hospital. The man who used pepper spray has been detained,” Ebojele said.
“The incident did not happen the way it is being exaggerated. All modalities were put in place to ensure the children enjoy their day,” he added.
