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.
The driver of the school bus, Odunsa Mandala, was taking the pupils back to their homes after the close of the yet-to-be-identified school when the incident occurred.
The pupils were said to have repeatedly complained to him about how uncomfortable they felt but he ignored their complaint until most of them on the bus had suffocated, and passed out.
When he saw the state the pupils were in, he raised an alarm and the students were rushed to the hospital.
While some of them were rushed to the Lagos State Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), others were rushed to Randle hospital.
However, two pupils were confirmed dead on arrival at Randle hospital.
The spokesperson of the Lagos state police command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, while confirming the incident, 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 comfortable in the bus.
“Some of the kids went unconscious, while two eventually died.
“Schools need to up their game in recruitment, and pay more attention to job fit.
“Parents also 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,” he added.