Edo Specialist Hospital Says No Deaths Recorded in Ogbemudia Stadium Children’s Day Incident
By Ojo Evans
The Chief Medical Director of the Edo Specialist Hospital, Dr. Anthonia Njoku, has refuted social media reports claiming that five pupils died during Wednesday’s Children’s Day celebration at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday, Njoku said the hospital responded swiftly to an emergency call and received several children evacuated from the stadium. She said all those brought in were treated and are now stable.
“Yesterday, we were called in for an emergency response and we responded swiftly and appropriately to some of the children which were evacuated by our ambulance to our facility,” Njoku said.
“Resuscitation measures started immediately and to God be the glory, we have no casualty, the children are all stable and we want to thank our governor for his continuous support,” she added.
Njoku addressed images circulating online showing children on the floor of the hospital, explaining that the position was medically necessary for resuscitation.
“You needed to put some of these children on hard surfaces to be able to resuscitate them, that’s why we even have some of them on the floor,” she explained. “Our goal at that point was to make sure that there was no casualty.”
The Chief Medical Director thanked Governor Monday Okpebholo for his continued support to the hospital and his commitment to child welfare in the state.
The Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady of Edo State, Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani, also visited the hospital on Thursday on a fact-finding mission. She confirmed that the children had been discharged and were doing well.
“I have had a conversation with the CMD, the children are fine and they have been discharged and we are happy. I want to thank the management of the hospital for their swift response,” Anani said.
Anani said Governor Okpebholo would have visited personally but was away on official engagement. “He had directed that I should come on my fact-finding mission to see what is happening,” she said.
She described the incident as unfortunate but commended the quick response of medical personnel. “Safety of our children remains the priority of this administration,” she added.
Also present at the hospital were the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Iyamu, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Mrs. Ebomonyi.
The clarification was contained in Press Release No. 412/EDSGH/2026 issued by the Office of the Governor on Thursday, 28 May 2026, and signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Dr. Patrick Akhere Ebojele.