The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed that a chemical weapon was detonated at a secondary school in Port Harcourt.
A video of students in disarray as a result of a panic caused when a chemical weapon was detonated Friday, in Community Secondary School, Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt has been trending on Social media.
Initial reports said secondary school students brought in weapons ahead of a planned cult clash between SS2 and SS3 Students of the school.
An eyewitness who begged anonymity claimed that, “We heard that the outgoing SS3 and SS2 had a clash and they scheduled a fight between the two classes.
“They planned to bring in different weapons for the fight.
“So some SS2 boys decided to bring in their own weapons yesterday to show their mates that they were ready for the fight.
“They brought in guns and grenade teargas.
“Some boys were trying to inspect their weapons then one of them mistakenly detonated one of the grenade teargas and all hell broke loose.”
But while the Police confirmed that a chemical weapon was brought into the school, the Command denied that there was a planned attack or clash between the two Senior Secondary school classes.
The Command in a statement by the spokesman, DSP Nnamdi Omoni said the Police responded to a distress call from the school leading to the arrest of two SS2 Students; 18year old Nicodemus Nkaparu and 17year of Darlington Sylvanus.
DSP Omoni disclosed that preliminary investigation shows that one of the students brought in the Chemical weapon (Teargas) belonging to his late brother who was a Police officer.
According to him, “The attention of the Rivers State Police Command has been drawn to a video making the rounds and trending On social media on the alleged attack on Students and Staff of Community Secondary School, Oroworukwo by students cultists and unknown persons.
“On receipt of the complaints the Police arrested 18year old Nicodemus Nkaparu and 17year of Darlington Sylvanus.
“The Principal made statement in relation to her complaints and the two suspects were equally cautioned and made statements where they admitted detonating the substance but however denied knowing the substance was a Chemical substance capable of causing panic and tension.
“In his statement, Nicodamus Nkaparu confirmed to have brought the canister from their House which is part of the belongings of his deceased brother who was also a Police Officer. But unknown to him, his friend, Darlington Sylvanus detonated the substance which threw the whole school into confusion as people scampared for safety while some sustained injuries.
“That at the end of the investigation, the suspects were given administrative bail and released unconditionally and asked to return on Monday, May 27th.
“That the incident in Community Secondary School, Oroworukwo was not a terrorist attack not an attempt to kidnap any student. That is was not a semblance of a cult clash.
“Investigation is still ongoing with a view to unraveling the circumstances surrounding the incident and bringing the culprits to justice,” Omoni stated.
