A Children’s Day celebration in Edo State turned chaotic on Wednesday after several students reportedly collapsed following exposure to pepper spray at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.
The event, organized to celebrate school children across the state, was disrupted when a group of male students allegedly made inappropriate advances toward female students, triggering intervention from security personnel stationed at the venue.
Eyewitness accounts revealed that a member of a private security outfit attempted to restore order but was confronted by the students, who reportedly regrouped and attacked him.
In response, the security operative discharged pepper spray into the crowd, inadvertently affecting other students nearby.
A parent, identified as Oboh Emmanuel, condemned the behavior that led to the incident, noting that the actions of the students drew the attention of security officials.
“The behavior of those students attracted the attention of the bouncers, who stepped in to caution them,” he said.
Following the incident, several students mostly female were said to have fainted after inhaling the substance. Affected students were immediately rushed to the Edo Specialist Hospital for treatment.
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Medical personnel at the hospital confirmed that most of the students received prompt care and were discharged the same day, with only two remaining under observation as a precaution.
“The situation was not critical. The affected students responded well to treatment and have been discharged. The remaining two are stable and will be discharged shortly,” a hospital staff member disclosed.
Reacting to the development, the Chief Press Secretary to the Edo State Governor, Patrick Ebojele, confirmed that the security operative involved has been detained pending further investigation.
He also clarified that the situation was not as severe as portrayed in some reports, emphasizing that necessary arrangements had been put in place to ensure a safe and enjoyable celebration for the children.
“The two students still under observation are not seriously affected. The individual who used the pepper spray has been detained, and the government is reviewing the incident,” Ebojele stated.
The incident has since raised concerns over crowd control and safety measures at public events involving minors, with calls for stricter supervision and more child-friendly security protocols.
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