From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
No fewer than 20 students of Fakunle Government Secondary School, Osogbo, Osun State, yesterday, rushed to the hospital after inhaling teargas smoke.
The school is located adjacent Osogbo City Stadium while the mobile police station was located in front of the school on Ikirun Road.
Findings showed that the mobile policemen fired teargas in their usual practice of mourning their fallen colleagues and the canister mistakenly landed in the school premises.
It was gathered that some students who inhaled the smoke fainted and were rushed to the hospital.
A teacher explained that the private hospital close to the school could not accommodate all affected students forcing some to be rushed to UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital.
He said the school authorities ordered the immediate closure of the school when the smoke was becoming unbearable.
Efforts to speak with the principal proved abortive as the school was deserted shortly after the incident.
Meanwhile, the state ministry of education has assured the situation is under control, saying the issue has been reported to the commissioner of police.
Permanent Secretary in charge of the ministry, Adelani Aderinola, who spoke through the Information Officer, Roseline Olawuni, said the mobile policemen were holding a memorial exercise in honour of their fallen colleagues in Benue State.
“They were shooting tear gas which affected the students. However, the matter has been reported to the police commissioner who has stopped the exercise. The students have been taken to the hospital and most of them have been stabilised,” he said.
Head of Corporation, Osun Ambulance, Arowosafe Olayemi, explained that the school authorities had moved the students to the private hospital behind the school before the arrival of the rescue bus, saying: “We moved 11 patients to UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital making it about 35 students that were affected.”
Spokesperson of the police, Yemisi Opalola, said the policemen did not fire the teargas at the school, saying they were just doing their drilling. She said the officers have been warned against firing the teargas during the day, saying the action is regrettable.