There was panic on Wednesday at the Edo State Children’s Day celebration after several pupils reportedly collapsed during a chaotic incident at the event venue, raising fresh concerns over crowd control and emergency response measures at the state-organised programme.
BusinessDay reports that the disturbance started after an altercation involving some students of Ikhogbe Secondary School and female pupils, creating tension among participants gathered for the event.
Sources alleged that security personnel attached to the Government House attempted to restore order by deploying pepper spray, a move said to have triggered panic among children, teachers and other attendees.
In the confusion that followed, many pupils reportedly struggled to escape the scene, while several others were said to have fainted or experienced breathing difficulties.
The Edo state government has also cleared the air on the chaos in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Dr. Patrick Ebojele.
The statement explained that some students, overwhelmed with excitement, became unruly, prompting one of the bouncers to intervene.
In the process of trying to restore order, the bouncer discharged tear gas, which affected the students. Authorities confirmed that the bouncer has since been arrested for questioning.
Some students were rushed to the Edo State Specialist Hospital where they were treated and discharged but two are said to still be on admission for them to be stabilised.
An eyewitness said the chaos started when some male students said to be from Ihogbe College reportedly made compromising advances at some female students
A parent who witnessed the incident was quoted as saying that “the behaviour of those uncultured students attracted the attention of bouncers stationed at the stadium as they rebuked the male students.”
According to him, the affected students later regrouped and attacked the bouncers, leading to a confrontation within the crowded arena.
It was gathered that in the confusion that followed, the bouncers were reported to have deployed pepper spray in an area occupied by a large number of students.
Part of the statement issued by the government reads, “The stadium was filled to capacity with thousands of excited children who came to participate in the day’s activities. The turnout was unprecedented. All the entrances into the facility were opened for children to access the stadium.
“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.
“The Edo State government has already authorised investigations into the incident while the bouncer involved is presently being interrogated by the Police to ascertain the immediate or remote cause of the incident.
“The government wishes to restate its commitment to the safety and security of all including our children. We however call on social media users to refrain from unverified narratives that could cause unnecessary panic.”
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