No fewer than 100 students of the College of Health and Technology, Ijero-Ekiti, were on Wednesday rushed to hospitals after inhaling a poisonous substance while writing an examination.
AMILOADED gathered that the students were said to have passed out as soon as the poisonous substance, proceeding from a fumigation work around the school premises, diffused into the classrooms.
It was gathered that the fumigation was carried out by men of the Federal Fire Service in the state.
The students, who were furious about the smell of the chemical and the instant effect on over 100 female students who collapsed after inhaling the chemical, protested against the exercise.
They were reported to have vandalised buildings and cars in the school.
It was gathered that by the time the dusts settled, the school’s administrative building, lecture rooms, vehicles of lecturers, and other properties worth millions of naira were destroyed by the rampaging students.
A source in the school said, “What could be the purpose of fumigating the school for COVID-19 this time when the school is in session and students are sitting for examination? The smell of the chemical used for the fumigation enveloped everywhere and brought discomfort.
“Many of our students were affected. They slumped as they inhaled the chemical in their classrooms and hostels. In fact, I cannot tell the number of students affected, but they were many. They were rushed to the hospital.
“The development angered the students, who embarked on a protest to register their grievances with the school management.”
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Oyebanji Filani, who confirmed the incident, said 100 students were taken to the State Specialist Hospital, Ijero Ekiti.
Filani, who rushed down to Ijero Ekiti immediately the ministry was alerted, said, “Before I left the hospital at Ijero, 64 of them had been discharged, while about 34 are still in the facility. I expect many of them to be discharged Wednesday evening and Thursday.
“We sent two of the students to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti, for observation and to ensure that they are in good condition and one other is undergoing investigation at the Afe Babalola University Multi-systems Hospital, Ado Ekiti.”
The commissioner, who said the federal fire service officials had been arrested by the police, noted, “Investigation is ongoing to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident.”
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