Two Ogun students die, others hospitalised after allegedly taking ‘laughing gas’

Two suspected students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, have died, while two others are hospitalised after allegedly consuming a hard drug suspected to be “laughing gas” in Oke-Ola Phase II, Isara-Remo area of Ogun State.

The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, was confirmed by the Ogun State Police Command on Thursday.

A resident of the community, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said four students were involved in the consumption of the substance.

“The incident actually happened on Tuesday. What we learnt was that the students were taking what they called laughing gas.

“Two of the students died as a result of taking the hard drug, while two others were hospitalised,” the source said.

Confirming the incident, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, said the command is investigating a suspected drug-related case.

“The Ogun State Police Command is investigating a suspected drug-related incident where two persons were found dead and two others were hospitalised after allegedly consuming hard drugs,” he stated.

According to Babaseyi, the bodies of the deceased have been deposited in the morgue for autopsy, while the survivors are receiving treatment.

He warned against drug abuse and urged members of the public to avoid illicit substances.

The police spokesperson, however, said the police could not yet ascertain whether the victims were students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic.

Efforts to get the reaction of the school management were unsuccessful, as repeated calls to the Polytechnic’s Public Relations Officer, Folorunso Adedayo, were not answered.