Drama unfolded at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City on Wednesday as several students reportedly fainted after a bouncer allegedly sprayed pepper spray during the 2026 Children’s Day celebration in Edo State.
The incident reportedly occurred after some male students allegedly made inappropriate advances towards female students during the event organised for school children across the state.
Eyewitnesses said the situation became rowdy when a member of a private security outfit attempted to intervene and rebuke the students over their conduct.
The students were said to have regrouped and allegedly attacked the bouncer, who in response sprayed pepper spray into the crowd, affecting several other students in the process.
Further details obtained by this online newspaper revealed that many students, particularly female students, reportedly collapsed after inhaling the substance, causing panic at the stadium.
Some of the affected students were immediately rushed to the Edo Specialist Hospital for medical treatment.
A parent at the venue, identified as Oboh Emmanuel, blamed the incident on the unruly behaviour of some students.
“The behaviour of those uncultured students attracted the attention of the bouncers stationed at the stadium as they rebuked the male students,” he said.
When journalists visited the Edo Specialist Hospital on Wednesday night, two students were still receiving treatment, while hospital officials confirmed that several others had already been treated and discharged.
“The medical emergency is not too serious. The students were brought in after inhaling the substance, but they have all been attended to and discharged.
“We have two more here, and they will be discharged tonight as they have recovered fully,” a medical personnel stated.
Confirming the incident to Uptown Press, the Chief Press Secretary to Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, Patrick Ebojele, disclosed that the security operative involved had been detained while investigations were ongoing.
According to him, all the affected students except two had been discharged from the hospital, while the remaining students were kept under observation.
“The two students are not seriously injured. Doctors want to observe them overnight. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, is still at the hospital. The man who used pepper spray has been detained,” he said.
Ebojele added that the state government had already authorised an investigation into the incident, while the bouncer involved was being interrogated by the police to determine the immediate and remote causes of the development.
“The government wishes to restate its commitment to the safety and security of all including our children. We however call on social media users to refrain from unverified narratives that could cause unnecessary panic,” he added.
He further maintained that isolated incidents at large gatherings should not overshadow Governor Monday Okpebholo’s commitment to child safety, welfare, and education in the state.
