Friday, 1 November 2013

Poisonous gas: Pupils kept out of classrooms

Pupils of  Ogba Junior Grammar School, Ikeja were on Friday kept out of their classrooms following the fainting of some of them on Thursday after allegedly inhaling a poisonous gas.
More than 20 of the pupils were said to have been affected by the gas which was alleged to have emitted from a nearby laboratory.
Mr Razaq Fadipe, Director, Lagos State Fire Service, had told newsmen that 22 students were unconscious after inhaling the gas but many were revived and taken home.
He had said that four pupils were receiving medical attention in a hospital.
A correspondent who visited the school at about 11.00a.m. on Friday, reports that the pupils were running around   and engaging in various games in the school.
Some officials of the school, said on condition of anonymity, said that the pupils were kept out of their classrooms as a safety measure.
At noon, the principal of the school, who refused to mention her name, assembled the pupils and directed them to go home.
The assembly lasted for only a few minutes after which the pupils dispersed and headed to their homes.
“Our principal has asked us to go home because of what happened yesterday,’’ one of the pupils said.
An official of the school, who craved anonymity, said that the pupils were sent home early based on a directive from “higher quarters”.
She said that all the doors and windows of the classrooms would be kept open all through the weekend so to allow fresh air into the classes.
According to her, the pupils should be able to resume classes by Monday.
“We are grateful to God that we did not lose any of our pupils to the incident; it was a horrible experience.
“The four in a hospital are in stable condition,’’ she said.
When contacted, Mr Jide Lawal, the Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Ministry of Information, saidthat there had yet to be any development on the matter. (NAN)*

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