Panic and confusion erupted on Wednesday at the 2026 Children’s Day celebration in Benin City after several pupils reportedly collapsed during a chaotic incident at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, prompting widespread concern over safety arrangements at the event.

Eyewitnesses alleged that security operatives attached to the Government House fired tear gas while attempting to control the large crowd of children and parents gathered for the celebration, forcing pupils to run in different directions amid fear and tension.

Some sources claimed that over 50 affected children were rushed to hospitals, including the Central Hospital in Benin City, for emergency medical attention.

The incident triggered outrage among parents, residents, and civil society groups, many of whom blamed overcrowding, poor crowd management, and inadequate emergency response measures for the chaos.

“We suddenly saw children running everywhere, and some fainted from the tension and heat. There was panic as teachers and parents struggled to rescue the pupils,” an eyewitness told journalists.

However, the Edo State Government denied reports suggesting a mass collapse of pupils, describing some accounts circulating on social media as exaggerated and misleading.

In a telephone interview, the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Kassim Afegbua, clarified that the incident occurred during crowd control efforts after the stadium became overcrowded due to what he described as an unprecedented turnout of schoolchildren.

According to him, bouncers, and not security operatives attached to the governor, incidentally deployed pepper spray after struggling to manage unruly behaviour at one of the stadium gates.

“The Deputy Governor immediately stepped in to ensure the safety of the affected students,” Afegbua stated.

In a separate statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Dr. Patrick Akhere Ebojele, the government said all stadium entrances had been opened to accommodate the large number of children who attended the event.

The statement explained that some excited pupils became unruly at one of the entrances, leading to a stampede-like situation, after which a bouncer deployed tear gas in an attempt to disperse the crowd.

The government acknowledged that some students sustained injuries during the ensuing pandemonium but maintained that affected pupils received prompt medical attention at the Edo Specialist Hospital and were later reunited with their families.

The statement further disclosed that the government had ordered an investigation into the incident, while the bouncer involved was being interrogated by the police to determine the circumstances surrounding the deployment of tear gas.

Despite the disruption, Governor Okpebholo, represented at the event by Deputy Governor Dennis Idahosa, had earlier reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting children’s rights, improving education, and strengthening sports development across the state.

Speaking on the 2026 Children’s Day theme, “Choose Kindness, Reject Bullying,” the governor said the message underscored the importance of creating safe and inclusive environments for children both in schools and within communities.

Meanwhile, opposition voices and advocacy groups have called for a comprehensive review of safety protocols for public gatherings involving children, insisting that authorities must ensure better crowd management and emergency preparedness at future state events.

The incident has since reignited debate over safety standards at major public functions in Edo State, with many residents demanding accountability and reforms to prevent a recurrence.