100 Ekiti Students Hospitalised Over Chemical Inhalation

No fewer than 100 students of the Ekiti State College of Health and Technology, Ijero-Ekiti, Ekiti State, on Wednesday slumped after inhaling chemicals during a fumigation exercise on campus.
They were reportedly rushed to Afe Babalola Teaching Hospital, in Ekiti.
It was gathered that the students collapsed while writing their examinations in their various halls after inhaling the chemicals when the operatives of the Federal Fire Service were undertaking a fumigation exercise.
A source who does not want his name on print said some of the students who were hospitalised had developed complications from the leaked chemicals.
Students of the institution were said to have mobilised their colleagues and stormed the institution’s administrative unit to query the management on the development.
The protest later turned violent as the administrative building, lectures’ rooms, vehicles of some lecturers and other property worth millions of naira were destroyed by the rampaging students, forcing the lecturers and other staff to scamper for safety.
The state’s commissioner for health, Dr. Banji Filani, when contacted confirmed the incident, saying the situation was under control.
According to him, “Earlier today I received a call from the provost of the College of Technology as regards the situation in the institution. What we understand was that the school has received a memo from the Federal Fire Service that fumigation will be done.
“The fumigation was carried out today but unfortunately the immolation created panic and more than that was adverse effects on over 100 students who were hospitalised at the Ijero State Specialist Hospital.
“While 64 have been discharged and about 34 of them are still in the facility. Most of them are in good condition.”
“We had sent two to the FETHI for close observation and to ensure that they are in good state and one is undergoing investigation in the Afe Babalola Teaching Hospital,” stated.