Dozens of students reportedly landed for hospital after serious chaos broke out during the Children’s Day celebration organised by the Edo State Government at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.According to reports, the trouble started after some students of Ihogbe College allegedly misbehaved towards female students at the venue.Bouncers hired for crowd control reportedly confronted the boys, and the situation later escalated when the students reacted angrily.Witnesses said some of the security personnel later fired tear gas inside the crowded stadium filled with schoolchildren, teachers and parents.The action caused panic as people tried to escape from the area.Several students, especially girls, reportedly fainted after inhaling the gas, while others sustained injuries during the stampede.Videos shared online showed affected students receiving treatment at Edo Specialist Hospital.Some students were seen lying on the floor while doctors administered oxygen and emergency care.However, the exact number of injured students had not been officially confirmed as of the time the report was published.The incident has raised concerns about safety planning and crowd management, especially because the Edo State Government budgeted about N9.98 billion in the 2026 fiscal year for special celebrations and public events, including Children’s Day activities.Critics are questioning why such a heavily funded event lacked adequate emergency response and proper crowd control.The Edo State Government admitted that a bouncer used tear gas during the disturbance and said the officer was being questioned by the police.Government officials also promised an investigation into the incident.

Meanwhile, PREMIUM TIMES reported that several questions sent to the state government concerning safety procedures, medical preparedness and training of security personnel were not properly answered.