There was confusion at Ogba Junior Grammar School, Lagos, on Thursday after about 22 pupils fell unconscious.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the incident was caused by a gaseous substance emitting from a neighbouring laboratory, close to the school. The chemical was said to have engulfed the entire school.

When our correspondent visited the school premises, it was deserted. However, a security guard, who did not identify himself, said the incident occurred around 1pm.

He said, “I was just by the gate when I perceived this offensive smell. I quickly ran to a corner and covered my nose with my shirt.

“Pupils came running, saying some of their colleagues had fainted. When the smell subsided, teachers rallied around and rushed them to a hospital.

“I don’t know the exact number of pupils affected but they were over 20. A few minutes later, emergency officials came around to attend to the victims.”

Panic-stricken teachers reportedly fled in different directions, using clothes to cover their nostrils so as not to be affected by the foul smell.

Moments later, the teachers rushed four of the pupils to Blue Cross Hospital, Ijaiye Road, Ogba, Lagos, while the others were attended to by emergency officials.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the rescue officials went around the compound in a bid to identify where the smell emanated from.

Our correspondent learnt that the odour was traced to Ogba Shopping Arcade, Ijaiye Road, which shares a fence with the affected school.

Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Razaq Fadipe, said it was discovered that a photo laboratory located in the complex was emitting the substance.

He said, “On getting to the school, 22 students were unconscious. LASAMBUS was able to revive most of them and their parents took them home.

“Four were not alright and had been taken to Blue Cross Hospital. We were able to trace the odour to the complex which shares a fence with the school.

“We spotted the laboratory where the smell was coming from and the place has been cordoned off. Investigations are still on.”

When asked why it was only those in the school that were affected by the chemical, Fadipe said it was probably because the lab faced the school directly.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the matter had been reported to the police while the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency had taken up the case.

An official of LASEPA, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “We will revisit the laboratory on Friday (today). If it is discovered that the laboratory was run illegally, then those running the place will be prosecuted.

“However, it is too soon to jump into conclusions; we will inform the public of our findings.”

When our correspondent visited Blue Cross Hospital, a nurse on duty said the pupils had been revived and transferred to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.

“Four children were brought here and we were able to stabilise them before transferring them to LASUTH. We don’t know the nature of the chemical they inhaled,” she said.

http://www.punchng.com/news/22-lagos-pupils-faint-after-inhaling-gas/

Lagos again?
Sometime lastweek, it was a wall that collapsed on students, now 22 pupils inhaled gas.


So bad.

The Lab needs to be relocated.

Reminds us of Iran.

So sad.

How come nobody knows the name of the gas or its properties?

Illiteracy. . . Ignorance . . Is a disease

oweniwe: How come nobody knows the name of the gas or its properties?

Illiteracy. . . Ignorance . . Is a disease

Haba!! Chairman.

L.M Ayedun..:

An official of LASEPA, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “We will revisit the laboratory on Friday (today). If it is discovered that the laboratory was run illegally, then those running the place will be prosecuted.

“However, it is too soon to jump into conclusions; we will inform the public of our findings.”

Investigations are still on-going about the gas Bros.

Hmmmmn

God dey

Leave dat thing.

Somebody must have farted.

The problem with Nigerians is that we are more reactive than proactive. We seem to be the grand master of post mortem. We only react when a catastrophe occurs whereas we are in good stead to take proactive measures against such occurrence.
Why siting a chemical laboratory in a proximity of a school peopled by children? Even if the lab is run illegally where are the relevant monitoring agencies to detect it and shut down the factory before grievous harm is inflicted on the innocents.

Quite unfortunate
But they should be able to tell us the name of the gas.

The laboratory should be relocated far away from the school for the safty of people in that environment.

The danger of air pollution which we don't take seriously in this part of the world.

what kind of workers do they have that set a gas leaking....if they wanna be doing test on chemicals they should go where it would not be a risk to people's lives....near a school again haba won fe pa awon omolomo ni?(do they want to kill other people's kids?)

haba, habatically, this case easy na. Omo na mess joor. They should check if there is any hausa boy in that class, the kind gas wey those guys dey throwey for yansh fit abort 8 months pregnancy self.

Book

End time things hahahahah

may GOD help the victims

First of all, whats the name of the gas, secondly why was the lab placed near a school?

I never knew my fart is this powerful


Sorry kids

Lilimax: Quite unfortunate
But they should be able to tell us the name of the gas.

O K the name of the gas is LAUGHING GAS. bye

naija zyklon b.... End time tins...

oweniwe: How come nobody knows the name of the gas or its properties?

Illiteracy. . . Ignorance . . Is a disease

and we have scientists in this country,soo bad,lives has no value in nigeria,should this happened in european country which put the lives of kids in danger,the entire building would from where the emission came from would be sealed off.

Already created thread. https://www.nairaland.com/1500374/25-students-coma-after-inhaling

yunglykmine: Lagos again?
Sometime lastweek, it was a wall that collapsed on students, now 22 pupils inhaled gas.


So bad.

d wall collapse happen in ogun not lasgidi.
@topic; i hope d lab is not into nuclear weapon

Something must have gone wrong. How come all of a sudden the gas started affecting the pupils, has it not being there for a long time. . .

was it TEAR GAS?

oweniwe: How come nobody knows the name of the gas or its properties?

Illiteracy. . . Ignorance . . Is a disease

make we tell una the name of the gas then una go use am rock havoc for the country abi. the one una don do never tire una?
na who be illiterate now? lol

spade: Leave dat thing.

Somebody must have farted.

i don't like insulting people online but i will say this,

must you always think with your foot?
if you don't have anything meaningful to contribut
then hang your fingers