Two Students Arrested, Three Hospitalized Over Detonation Of Chemical Weapon In Rivers State School

Inspector General of Police

Two students of the Community Secondary School, Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, have been arrested in connection with the detonation of a chemical weapon in the school on Thursday, 23rd, May.

Nicodemous Nkaparo ‘m’ 18 years and Darlington Sylvanus ‘m’ 17 years were arrested and taken to the Olu-Obasanjo Police Station, Port Harcourt, following complaint lodged by the principal of the school , Mrs. Ruth Major on the explosion which caused stir and panic among staff and students.

Three students of the school are currently hospitalized in the stampede that followed the explosion which saw students jumping down from the two-storey school building and running helter-skelter, fearing they were under terrorist attack or kidnap attempt.

Rivers State Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Nnamdi Omoni, who gave the disclosure on the arrest of the students, however said they have been granted administrative bail but have been asked to report back at the police station on Monday.

Omoni in a statement dated Saturday 25 and made available to The State Online said “In his statement, Nicodemous Nkararo confessed to have brought the canister from their house, which was part of the belongings of his deceased elder brother who was a Policeman. He stated further that he did not know that it was a chemical weapon (teargas) which could cause panic and tension. But unknown to him, his friend Darlington Sylvanus detonated the substance, which threw the whole school into confusion, as people scampered for safety while some sustained injuries.”

Full text of the police press statement read thus:

“The attention of the Rivers State Police Command has been drawn to a video making the rounds and trending on the social media , on the alleged attack of the students and staff of Community Secondary School Oroworukwo by students cultists and unknown persons.

“Honestly, the Command is disturbed by this development and consequently wishes to disabuse the minds of the public and state the true position as follows.

“That on 23rd May, 2019 at about 1030 hrs, the principal of the Community Secondary School, Oroworukwo Mrs. Ruth Major, lodged a complaint with the Olu-Obasanjo Police Station on the detonation on the detonation of the chemical weapon (canister) by two students of the school; which act caused stir and panic in the school.

“That on the receipt of the complaint, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) CSP Lucky Omoniyi detailed ASP Love Tonalo to the scene, whereupon, two students, namely: Nicodemous Nkaparo ‘m’ 18 years and Darlington Sylvanus ‘m’ 17 years were arrested and taken to the station.

“At the station, the Principal made statement in relation to her complaint and the two suspects were cautioned and equally made their statements , where they admitted detonating the substance but however denied knowing that it was a chemical substance capable of causing and tension.

“In his statement, Nicodemous Nkararo confessed to have brought the canister from their house, which was part of the belongings of his deceased elder brother who was a Policeman. He stated further that he did not know that it was a chemical weapon (teargas) which could cause panic and tension. But unknown to him, his friend Darlington Sylvanus detonated the substance, which threw the whole school into confusion, as people scampered for safety while some sustained injuries.

“That at the end of the interrogation, the two suspects were given administrative bail and released unconditionally to report back on Monday, 27th May 2019.

“That as part of investigation, the Police team executed search in the houses of the suspects but nothing incriminating was found. Furthermore, the team visited the scene and the hospital where three students  were receiving medical attention.

“That at the end of this exercise, the team called all staff and students of the  school and assured them of their protection and warned them to be law abiding , as the Police will not spare any effort in dealing with delinquent students.

“At this point, it has become increasingly necessary to state in an unmistakable terms that :

The incident at Community Secondary School, Oroworukwo is not a terrorist attack nor an attempt to kidnap the students.

“That it has not semblance of cult attack.

“Investigation is still ongoing with a view to unraveling the circumstances surrounding the incident and bringing the culprits to justice.

“That so far, normalcy has been restored in the school and its environs, as normal school activities have resumed in earnest.

“That the Rivers State Police Command is poised to ensure that sanity is maintained in all primary and tertiary institutions in the State and to guide against security breach in schools.

“Members of the public are hereby advised to increase their security consciousness by closely monitoring the activities of their children. Also, Heads of both private and public schools are enjoined to increase their security consciousness in schools and midly subject their students to polite and decent search, when coming and going out of schools. Security is everybody’s business.

“DSP Nnamdi Omoni

Police Public Relations Officer,

For: Commissioner of Police,

Rivers State Police Command,

Port Harcourt.”

-The State