Twenty students hospitalized after inhaling teargas fired by Nigerian police in Osun

No fewer than twenty students of Fakunle Comprehensive High School, Osogbo, on Tuesday, May 29, 2023, have been left hospitalized, after fter inhaling teargas fired by men of Mopol 39 Base, located directly opposite the school premises.

According to a teacher, who pleaded anonymity, some of the students collapsed as a result of the intensity of the tear gas inside the school. The other students have been asked to go home to avoid breakdown of law and order.

“13 of the students were taken to a private hospital behind the school, while 7 or 8 others were take to Uniosun teaching hospital for treatment. Some of them have been stabilised while others are still under watch”

A parent identified as Gideon, stated that he was told to check Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, for his daughter, who was said to have been affected by the teargas.

He said,

“When I got here, I was told to check Uniosun Teaching Hospital for my daughter. The students have been sent home after about 20 of them lost consciousness after inhaling tear gas fired by the men of the Mopol base here.”

Another parent, Mrs Adeola Fatima, who rushed to the school to look for her daughter, identified as Hikmah, said she was told she has been taken to a hospital for treatment.

As at the time of filing this report, parents still rushed to the school to find out the whereabout of their children.

When contacted for reaction, the spokesperson of the Osun State Police Command, said the riot policemen were engaging in their usual morning drills and apologised to those that were affected.

She said,

“I just spoke to the people at the Mopol base. They were just engaging in their morning drills, which involved the use of tear gas. We apologise for the inconvenience. There will be necessary adjustments in operation since the base is now close to where other people also operate their businesses.”

Meanwhile the State Ministry of Education disclosed that the situation is under control as the issue has been escalated to the Commissioner of Police in the state.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Adelani Aderinola, who spoke through the Information Officer, Roseline Olawuni, said the mobile policemen were holding memorial exercise in honour of their fallen colleagues in Benue state.

“They were shooting tear gas which affected the students on the school. However, the matter has been escalated to the Police Commissioner and has stopped the exercise.

“The students have been taken to the hospital and most of them have been stabilised,” he said.

Download Edujandon.com News App QR-Code

Edujandon.com - 24/7 News Upda

Developer: Edujandon Enterprises

Price: Free