Edo State Government stated that an investigation has commenced into the stampede that occurred at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium on Wednesday, the venue of this year’s Children’s Day celebration, where several students sustained various degrees of injuries.
The government also said that the bouncer involved in the incident is presently being interrogated by the Police to ascertain the immediate or remote cause of the incident.
DAILY POST reports that Dr Patrick Ebojele, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo disclosed this in a statement while reacting to the incident in Benin City.
While narrating what led to the incident, Ebojele alleged that the pandemonium was caused by some excited children who resorted to unruly behaviour at one of the gates of the stadium.
He said the behaviour led to some “kind of stampede” which necessitated one of the bouncers to deploy the use of tear gas to disperse the students.
He said that in the course of the pandemonium that ensued, a few students sustained injuries.
According to him, the stadium was filled with thousands of excited children who came to participate in the day’s activities. The turnout was unprecedented. All the entrances into the facility were opened for children to access the stadium.
Ebojele explained that the State Deputy Governor, Dennis Idahosa who was physically present at the stadium, rose to the challenge by immediately assisting the children with first aid.
He added that those requiring further care were taken to the Edo Specialist Hospital where they received appropriate medical attention and are now safely back home with their families.
The Governor’s media aide, however, restated the state government’s commitment to the safety and security of all including the children.
The Chief Press Secretary, who described the incident as an isolated case at large gatherings, opined that it would not diminish Governor Okpebholo’s commitment to child safety and well-being.
“The Governor’s unparalleled investment in education is the reason for the huge attendance by students of different schools in the state to celebrate Children’s Day”, he stated.
He commended the security personnel, medical staff, and volunteers for their swift response and dedication to duty noting that their immediate response helped to douse the tension.
He, however, called on social media users to refrain from unverified narratives that could cause unnecessary panic in the state.