Children’s Day celebration: Several students hospitalised, others injured as security operatives deploy pepper spray in Edo
Panic Erupts at Benin City Stadium During Children’s Day Celebration
Benin City, Nigeria – Chaos unfolded Wednesday at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium during this year’s Children’s Day celebration, resulting in injuries to several students after security personnel deployed pepper spray and tear gas.
The event, orchestrated by the Edo State Ministry of Education, saw numerous students collapse as a stampede ensued. Sources indicated that the unrest may have been triggered by local security bouncers, who used pepper spray in response to escalating tensions.
Eyewitnesses reported that many students, particularly girls, fainted from inhaling the spray, while others were injured in the scramble for safety. Panic swept through the stadium as students, teachers, and parents sought shelter from the turmoil.
Many injured students were transported to Edo Specialist Hospital for medical care.
An incident involving male students from Ihogbe College, who allegedly made inappropriate advances toward female students, reportedly initiated the confrontation.
One parent, Oboh Emmanuel, claimed that the behavior of some students drew the attention of the bouncers stationed at the venue. He further stated that affected students regrouped and confronted the bouncers, escalating the situation amid the densely packed crowd.
In the aftermath of the disarray, Emmanuel alleged that the deployment of pepper spray by the bouncers affected a large number of students in the crowd.
In response to the events, Prince Kassim Afegbua, the Edo State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, described reports of mass fainting as exaggerated. He clarified that it was the bouncers who used pepper spray, contradicting early reports that indicated security agents were responsible.
Afegbua noted that Hon. Dennis Idahosa, the state’s Deputy Governor, intervened swiftly to prevent further chaos.
