Chaos at Edo Children's Day Leaves Over 50 Hospitalized

On Wednesday, during the annual Edo Children's Day celebration at Ogb Stadium in Benin City, over 50 pupils were hospitalized due to a chaotic incident triggered by a chemical exposure. The event, intended to celebrate youth, turned into pandemonium when crowd management failures led to panic among children and teachers.

Private security personnel deployed to handle the crowd released a chemical irritant, compromising air quality and causing severe respiratory distress among numerous students. As panic ensued, frightened children attempted to flee, resulting in some collapsing and others sustaining injuries from thrown objects.

Edo State Deputy Governor Dennis Idahosa was present and took charge of the emergency response, providing critical first aid to affected students. Fifty school children were subsequently evacuated to Edo Specialist Hospital for urgent medical attention.

Hospital authorities worked rapidly to stabilize the young victims, with most discharged within hours, while two children remained under observation overnight. Edo State Governor Mondai Okpebholo ordered a full-scale administrative investigation into the security breach that marred the state event.