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."