Several students were taken to hospital on Tuesday after a security operative discharged tear gas during the Children’s Day celebration held at the Dr Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, Edo State.
The incident disrupted activities at the annual event, which had drawn pupils and students from different schools across the state for the May 27 celebration. Witnesses said the situation turned chaotic shortly after the tear gas was fired, forcing students and officials to scramble for safety.
Some of the affected students reportedly collapsed after inhaling the substance and were later rushed to the Edo Specialist Hospital for medical attention.
Students who witnessed the incident said at least three people were taken to hospital following the disruption. One of the students also sustained a head injury during the confusion that followed.
“Three students collapsed after the tear gas was fired. One student was injured in the head after a stone was thrown by another student,” a student who attended the event said.
The students requested anonymity while speaking about the development.
Officials of the Edo State Government later confirmed that a security operative involved in the incident had been detained. The operative was accused of deploying pepper spray or tear gas during the gathering, though authorities have not publicly explained what led to the action.
Patrick Ebojele, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, acknowledged the incident while responding to enquiries on Tuesday. According to him, the situation was being managed and most of the affected students had already been discharged from hospital.
He said two students remained under medical observation, although their condition was not considered critical.
“The two students are not seriously injured. Doctors want to observe them overnight. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education is still at the hospital. The man who used pepper spray has been detained,” Ebojele said.
He also dismissed claims circulating about the scale of the incident, insisting that the situation was under control and that adequate arrangements had been made for the celebration.
“The incident did not happen the way it is being exaggerated. All modalities were put in place to ensure the children enjoy their day,” he added.
Children’s Day is observed annually in Nigeria with parades, cultural performances and educational activities organised by schools and state governments. In many states, the celebrations are held in large public venues and involve the participation of security agencies, education officials and parents.
Tuesday’s incident in Benin City, however, raised concerns among parents and observers over crowd control and safety measures at events involving children.
Although no fatalities were recorded, the disruption interrupted proceedings at the stadium and triggered panic among students and teachers present at the venue.
Some eyewitnesses said many students ran in different directions immediately after the substance was released. Teachers and emergency responders were seen assisting affected children while medical officials attended to those who struggled to breathe.
Authorities have yet to release details about the circumstances surrounding the discharge of the tear gas or whether the operative acted on instruction. It also remains unclear whether an internal investigation has been opened into the incident.
The Edo Specialist Hospital became the immediate response centre for the affected students, with government officials monitoring treatment and recovery efforts late into the evening.
The presence of senior officials from the Ministry of Education at the hospital suggested the state government was attempting to reassure parents after the incident generated reactions among residents and social media users.
Public reactions have focused largely on the use of force or crowd-control agents in an environment filled with children. Some residents questioned why tear gas or pepper spray was deployed at a school event, while others called for stricter safety guidelines for public gatherings involving minors.
As of Thursday night, normalcy had reportedly returned to the stadium area, while families of affected students continued to monitor the condition of those receiving treatment.
The state government has not announced whether disciplinary action beyond the detention of the operative will follow.
The Children’s Day celebration in Edo was expected to be a routine event centred on entertainment and recognition of children’s welfare. Instead, it ended with emergency hospital visits for several students and renewed scrutiny of security conduct at public events involving minors.
