At least two pupils have died while others passed out after they suffocated in their school bus in Aguda area of Lagos state on Friday, July 8.
Experts have attributed the incident to leakage of exhaust fumes (carbon monoxide) in the bus carbin either from the exhaust or the engine combustion chamber – ruling out heat stroke due to the present cold weather.
The driver of the school bus, Odunsa Mandala, was taking the pupils back to their homes after the close of school when the incident occurred. The pupils were said to have repeatedly complained to him of being uncomfortable, but he allegedly ignored their complaint until most of them suffocated and passed out.
On noticing their condition, he raised the alarm and the pupils were rushed to hospital.
Some were rushed to the Lagos State Teaching Hospital and others to Randle hospital.
Sadly, two of the pupils lost their lives.
Confirming the incident on Twitter, the spokesperson of the state police command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, said:
”Yes, the driver has been arrested but the young souls are already gone, sadly so. A school bus driver ignored repeated complaints from the kids he was taking home that they were not feeling well. Some of the kids went unconscious, two eventually died.
Schools need to up their game in recruitment and pay more attention to job fit. Parents too need to do thorough background checks of schools and crèches before entrusting their kids into their care.
Meanwhile, the relevant regulatory agency has been notified of this act of gross negligence. Security is everyone’s business.”