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

Thank God say non died!.