13 Lagos pupils slump after inhaling poisonous gas

There was pandemonium at the Ogba Junior Grammar School, Lagos on Thursday when 13 pupils fell unconscious after inhaling a gaseous substance from unidentified source.

The incident was said to have occurred during the 12 noon break time.

PUNCH Metro had on November 1, 2013, reported that 22 pupils of the same school fainted after inhaling a gaseous substance.

Following reports on the incident, a photo laboratory behind the school was investigated and was subsequently shut down by the Lagos State Government.

When PUNCH Metro visited the school on Thursday, it was deserted as the pupils had been sent home immediately the incident occurred.

A classroom block, which also houses the school infirmary, was said to have been most affected by the gaseous emission.

An employee of the school was seen opening windows in the infirmary to allow for proper ventilation of the room.

A security guard, who did not identify himself, said, “It happened during the break time. The wind blew the gas in the direction of the school and the students who were close by began to choke. They were immediately rushed to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, while the school was closed for the day.”

Officials of the Lagos State Safety Commission were also seen at the school conducting an on-the-spot investigation.

At the Ogba Shopping Arcade, which had been shut down because of the Thursday incident, officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency and Red Cross were were seen.

Some shop owners, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, expressed displeasure at the closure of the arcade by the government.

One of them said, “When the incident occurred last year, the gaseous substance was not from the photo laboratory as it was widely reported. There are 109 shops in this arcade and 88 of them have occupants. How come the gas did not affect anyone here but affected those behind the arcade?

“Four agencies from the Lagos State Government came to seal the lab without proper investigation. Now that the incident has repeated itself, they are confused.

“They just came here around 2pm and told all of us to leave the arcade, they subsequently sealed it up. The emission is not from this place. There is no shop in the arcade presently that does anything with chemicals. We have no idea when they will reopen the arcade.”

The Lagos State Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Damasus Ozoani, said, “We are yet to ascertain the company where the emission originated from. But ongoing investigation revealed that the emission affected Ogba Junior Grammar School and about eight pupils in the school were affected. The pupils have been taken to LASUTH and they are responding to treatment.

“Meanwhile, the school has been temporarily closed and the Ogba Shopping Arcade in front of the school has equally been temporarily closed to enable LASEMA take proper assessment of what actually happened.

“The situation is under control, and no life was lost. I am assuring Lagosians that there is no cause for alarm.”

The General Manager LASEMA, Dr. Femi Oke-Osayintolu said, “We are still running gas analysis and risk assessment of the area to ascertain where the gaseous substance came from. We have cordoned off the shopping arcade in the meantime while we continue with our investigations.

“However 12 female and one male pupil were affected by the gaseous emission. They are presently responding to treatment.”