There was confusion at Ogba Junior Secondary School yesterday in Lagos State as 25 pupils collapsed after inhaling a chemical waste discharged
into drainage near the school.
It was learnt that the discharged chemical were allegedly released into the drains by Bizcircuit photo laboratory situated in Ogba shopping plaza. According to eye witnesses, the incident occurred at about 12:40pm while the pupils were receiving lessons in classes.
Panic gripped parents and guardians as the school management was confused over the incident. The management wondered what could have been responsible for sudden collapse of the pupils.
Officials of various relevant agencies, especially the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and the Lagos State Ambulance Services stormed the school as they had hectic time rushing the unconscious pupils to Blue Cross Hospital and Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).
Speaking with National Mirror, LASEMA Head of Logistics, Mr. Femi Giwa, said four of the 25 victims were in critical condition and presently responding to treatment.
He attributed the survival of the victims to prompt response of the agency to the distress call, saying lives would have lost if the agency had not responded on time.
Giwa said after a general assessment of the environment, the agency discovered that certain liquid chemicals with offensive and choking odour was stored and used for production in the photo laboratory on the first floor of the shopping complex.
He blamed the collapse of students to offensive odour permeated the environment, saying the government had sealed off the premises and arrested three of the staff of the photo studio for unlawful discharge of harmful chemical.
Assuring that proper investigation would be conducted to ascertain the chemical analysis and its effect on the environment, Giwa warned companies to observe best practices while carrying out activities.
The Lagos State Director of Fire and Safety Services, Mr. Rasaq Fadipe, said officials assisted in the rescue operations.
Fadipe, however, advised residents to be safety conscious, adding that most fire incidents were due to carefree attitude of many people.
