LAGOS—THERE was palpable anxiety
among parents and guardians in the
Ogba axis of Lagos metropolis Thursday,
after 13 students of Ogba Junior
Grammah School, Ogba, Ojodu Local
Council Development Area, LCDA,
collapsed after inhaling an unidentified
poisonous fumes discharged from one of
the cottage factories in Ogba Shopping
Arcade.
This came four months after 25 of the
students of the same school collapsed
after inhaling an unidentified chemical
waste discharged into drainage by a
Photo Laboratory, situated in the
Shopping Arcade.
When Vanguard visited the school, the
management and staff were wondering
which company would have discharged
such hazardous fumes this time around.
Also, our correspondent observed that
parents of the students raced to the
scene to verify the condition of their
children. While those whose children
weren’t affected by the emission rushed
them back home, some were also sighted
wailing over the ugly incident.
Mr. Oladokun, the father of one of the
victims, who rushed to the scene
immediately he heard of the incident,
said: “I was in the office when my wife
called me that my daughter, who is in JSS
3 was also affected.”
The incidents was said to have occurred
at about 12:40 pm while the students
were still in their classes.
Vanguard gathered that the leak of the
dangerous gas was least expected as it
enveloped the premises making the
victims unconscious.
Officials of the National Emergency
management Agency, NEMA and its Lagos
state counterpart, LASEMA and the Lagos
State Environmental Health Monitoring
Unit, SEHMU arrived the scene and
rushed the unconscious victims to the
Lagos State University Teaching Hospital,
LASUTH, Ikeja for treatment.
Affected students
Of the 13 affected students, one was a
male while the rest were females.
Vanguard investigation revealed that one
of the students was in critical condition
and has been admitted at the Intensive
Care Unit.
Some of the affected students were: Tijani
Mariam, Subaidat Oladokun, Adebiyi
Taiwo, Muiz Rodiat, Ogunbami Omolade,
Onaigbe Blessing, Karimat Akiode, Rasak
Gbolahan and Modupe Idowu.
Vanguard learnt that although the
company responsible for discharging the
chemical was yet to be identified, the
state government has shut the school and
the shopping complex indefinitely.
Mr. John Joshua, one of the traders in the
arcade, said: “I was outside waiting for
someone. Suddenly, me and my friends,
who were standing beside me, inhaled
the chemical immediately it was
discharged. It maybe from the complex or
outside since this is an industrial area.
“Immediately, I developed difficulty in
breathing. At this moment, I am still
struggling to breath.”
On the closure of the arcade, Mrs. Tina
Ikechukwu, who is an occupant said: “I am
happy because if the arcade wasn’t shut,
maybe the number of causalities would
have increased.”
Victims responding to treatment —
LASEMA
Apart from confirming the accident,
General Manager of the Lagos State
Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA,
Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu said the 13
affected students were admitted at the
LASUTH and are responding to treatment,
saying that the rescue operation was swift
and prompt.
He said: “They are responding to
treatment very well, but however, we have
condoned off the school and the building
associated with that area. Why we are
doing that is to allow us carry out risk
assessment and analysis on the place. We
are appealing to our people not to panic
that the state is on top of the challenges.
School, arcade shut indefinitely
NEMA information officer, Mr. Ibrahim
Farinloye and the Council Chairman, Mr.
Julius Oloro said that the school and the
shopping arcade have been shut.
Oloro said: “Until the experts are through
with their investigation no one will be
able to gain access into both premises.
And that was why we have asked the
traders and the pupils to go home
because there presence will halt the
investigation.”
Ibrahim Farinloye, South West
information officer of the National
Emergency Management Agency, NEMA
said: “We have commenced the
investigation to know the source of the
emission. Since the waste was discharged
last year and today (yesterday) another
chemical waste have been discharged,
there is need for proper investigation.”
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