Scores of students collapse as police teargas drill goes awry in Osun

There was apprehension in the air on Tuesday morning as some students of Fakunle Comprehensive High School collapsed due to exposure to teargas used by police personnel during morning drills.

The students, It was gathered, numbering about 35, were affected by the targas, as some were hospitalised after being rushed to the hospital for emergency resuscitation.

It was gathered that the students, whose school is located directly opposite the 39 Squadron of the Police Mobile Force, PMF, along the Osogbo-Ikirun road, Osogbo Township Stadium area, were inside their classrooms for the lessons of the day when the incident occurred.

As a result of being exposed to the tear gas, the affected students started displaying signs of unease.

A school source revealed that the students were overwhelmed by the smell of the teargas and many of them scampered for safety as the school was forced to close for the day.

Meanwhile, the Osun State Government has confirmed the incident.

Confirming the incidents, the Permanent Secretary, Osun State Ministry of Education, Adelani Aderinola disclosed that the PMF personnel were holding a memorial exercise in honour of their fallen colleagues when they used the tear-gas that affected the students.

In a statement through the Press Officer of the ministry, Roseline Olawuni, Aderinola stated that, “They were shooting teargas, which affected the students in the school.

“However, the matter has been escalated to the Police Commissioner, who has stopped the exercise. The students have been taken to the hospital, and most of them have been stabilised.”

Also, the Osun Command Police Public Relations Officer, Yemisi Opalola, explained that the police did not fire the teargas inside the school but were using it for their drills.

She, however, revealed that, “We have ordered them to stop the action. We are sorry for the inconvenience.”

The Osun State Emergency Ambulance Service has also confirmed that 35 students were rushed by the agency to different hospitals within the state capital, Osogbo.