At least 35 students of Fakunle Comprehensive High School, Osogbo, Osun State were rushed to the hospital after inhaling tear gas fired by mobile policemen in the early hours of Tuesday.
The mobile policemen were reportedly conducting morning drills at the 39 Squadron Division located opposite the school compound at the Powerline area, along Osogbo-Ikirun road.
A teacher in the school, who pleaded anonymity, said that over 35 students collapsed after inhaling the gas.
“We hurriedly rushed about 13 of them to a private hospital around Aderin while O’Ambulance took others to Uniosun Teaching Hospital”, he said.
While confirming the development, the Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Education, Adelani Adetoro said the situation was under control.
The Information Officer of the ministry, Roseline Olawuni quoted Adetoro as saying: “The tear gas shot during mobile policemen drill affected the students in the school and were quickly carried to hospitals for treatment. I can assure the public that the situation is under control”.
Also, the state Police Command spokesperson, Superintendent Yemisi Opalola said the incident was not deliberate, adding that the policemen have been told to stop that type of drill around the area.
“The situation is regrettable. The tear gas was not shot into the school”, she said.
Similarly, the Head of Operations, Osun Ambulance Services, Arowosafe Elizabeth, said the rescue team got to the school within five minutes of the incident and evacuated 11 students from the school premises to the hospital.
She said: “We moved 11 patients, 6 to Uniosun Teaching Hospital and the others were taken to Spring Hospital near the school because before we got there the school authority had already taken the students to a private hospital. You know we cannot just disagree with them because the lives of the students are so important to us.
“When the Spring Hospital was occupied, we moved the remaining students to Uniosun Teaching Hospital. We have 11 at Uniosun Teaching Hospital and the remaining students are at Spring Hospital. In all, about 35 students were rushed to the hospitals, according to the information given to us”.
