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Speaker 1: Barely forty eight hours after a serving police officer on

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May twenty fifth, twenty twenty six, at Uelu area of

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a Gida quarters in Benin City, Tier gas Are resident

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to death Matthieu Okubo, a tricycle rider who is also

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said to be an ex police officer of an elderly age.

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A more devastating tragedy was apparently averted on May twenty seven,

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twenty twenty six, at the Samuel Ogermudia Stadium during the

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twenty twenty six Children’s Day celebration, when some security operatives

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used pepper spray on school children who came for the celebration,

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an action capable of causing death. But the Chief medical

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Director Hedo Specialist Hospital, doctor Anthonia and Joku, denied and

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dismissed the claims that about five children died as a

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result of the incident, and the Edo Command of the

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Nigeria Police Force in a press statement failed to state

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if there was any death casualty or not, but stated

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that four persons, including the seller of the pepper spray

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chemical substance, have been a rested and detained in connection

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with the Children’s Day incident, adding that the policeman who

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caused the death of the tricycle rider has been in

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detention waiting to be arraigned for possible act of murder.

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This our research study shows that the less lethal weapon

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of chemical substances like tear gas and pepper spray may

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be seen as an act of deliberate murder or attempted

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murder if used on a closed range enclosed environmentment like

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hall big or small. Because the chemical substances from our

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assessment are meant only to be used on a long range,

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open air outdoor spaces where people have alternatives means to

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run and leave the contaminated areas, and in line with

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global standard on the use of the chemical substances, tear

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gas is never meant to be used on vulnerable populations

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or individuals with medical conditions, as international bodies like the

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United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

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who HCHR and health organizations warn it can cause permanent

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inns injury, severe complications or death. In addition, the chemical

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causes instant airway constriction that can trigger fatal respiratory failure

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in people with asthma or COPD, a severe risk that

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prompted the American Thoracic Society ATS to call for a

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total moratorium on its use. Becaused simultaneously. The intense physical

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stress can induce cardiac arrest in those with heart disease,

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as documented by Physicians for Human Rights PHR, and according

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to strict deployment standards from Amnesty International, Infants and young

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children face significantly higher risks because their developing lungs breathe

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faster and heavy gas vapors settle near the ground. Pregnant

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individuals face severe risks of premature labor or miscarriage, a

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danger highlighted in field reports by National Nurses United and

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reproductive toxicology data published by the National Institutes of Health NIH.

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Also the US, the elderly suffer prolonged tissue damage due

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to a reduced physical ability to flee. And finally, the

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American Lung Association warns the people with eye conditions, especially

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contact lens wearers, can suffer chemical burns and permanent vision

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loss from trap toxins. Though legally, while the Chemical Weapons

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Convention c w C permits domestic law enforcement usage, the

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UN Guidance on les Lethal Weapons explicitly dictates the police

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operations must give special consideration to these protected groups to

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avoid unlawful disproportionate force. According to some residents who witnessed

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the incident, the commercial tricycle operator Matthew Acuba was killed

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by the serving police officer of possible lane around Uelu

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section in a Gidda area of Benin City, the Edo

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State capital, when the policeman allegedly used the tear gas

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on him at a very closed range over a minor argument.

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The killing prompted the commercial tricycle operators popularly known as

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KK riders in the area to protest and block some

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sections of the Yuelu Road in the Agida quarters, demanding

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justice for their slain colleague. It was gathered that the

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victim was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead thereafter.

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Edo’s State commanded the Nigeria Police Force. In a press

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statement issued on June first, twenty twenty six and made

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available by the command Public Relations Officer, asp no Achiodom,

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stated that the Edo State Police Command has expressed grave

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concern over the increasing proliferation, unauthorized possession and unlawful use

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of restricted security accouterments such as pepper spray, tear gas

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canisters and other force related equipment. By private individuals, bounces,

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vigilantes and unauthorized security outfits within the state. It frowns

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on the use of such items without proper training or

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regard for public safety, thereby endangering innocent lives and creating

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avoidable public disorder. He recalled that on the twenty fifth

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of May twenty twenty six, a police officer attached to

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the Command unlawfully discharged tier gas at the Gida Venin City,

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an incident which unfortunately led to the loss of a life.

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The officer involved was immediately arrested and subjected to disciplinary

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and criminal procedures in line with extant laws. Similarly, on

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the twenty seventh of May twenty twenty six, during the

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Children’s Day celebration held at the Samuel Ogbamudia Stadium, Benin City,

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pepper spray was unlawfully discharged within the stadium premises by

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private bounces, causing panic and affecting several children and other

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attendees of the event. Following diligent investigation into the incident,

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the Command has arrested three bounces connected to the unlawful act,

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namely Afeanyi John Paul, aged thirty six years Ola Ibukunle

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aged forty six years on Aha Chukwo g aged thirty

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three years. Further investigation also led to the arrest of

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one Misses, Rebecca Hassan, alleged to be the supplier seller

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of the pepper spray used during the incident. The Command

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views the unauthorized use of such devices as assault or

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acts capable of causing grievous harm and in certain circumstances death. Consequently,

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unlawful possession of these items with intent to commit felony

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and other related offenses is viewed as criminal under the law.

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In view of the foregoing, the Edo State Police Command

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hereby issues a stern warning to all individuals, private security personnel, bounces,

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vigilante groups and unauthorized organizations in possession of pepper spray,

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tear gas or related restricted security equipment to immediately desist

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from such unlawful possession and usage. Henceforth, any person found

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in possession of such prohibited or unauthorized police security accouterments,

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including sellers, distributors and suppliers, will be arrested and prosecuted accordingly.

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The Commissioner of Police Heado’s State Command c P. Monday

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Agbonica f DC reassures residents that the Command remains committed

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to protecting the rights of citizens and will not tolerate

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any act capable of threatening public peace and safety within

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the state. Meanwhile, on the Children’s Day tragedy, the Office

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of the Press Secretary to the Edo State Governor, in

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a press release issued on May twenty eighth, twenty twenty

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six and made available by Patrick Akir Ebergele, the Chief

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Press Secretary to the Governor, the Chief Medical Director Edo’s

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Specialist Hospital, doctor Anthonia Injoku, has clarified the social media

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reports alleging that five pupils died during the Children’s Day

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celebration at the Samuel Augermudia Stadium. Indjoku made the clarification

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on Thursday in Benin while addressing newsmen yesterday May twenty seventh,

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We were called in for an emergency response and we

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responded swiftly and appropriately to some of the children which

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were evacuated by our ambulance to our facility. Resuscitation measures

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started immediately and to God be the glory, we have

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no casualty. The children are all stable and we want

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to thank our governor for his continuous support, she said,

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speaking on why the children were seen on the floor

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of the hospital Injoku, explained that they placed them on

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the floor for an effective resuscitation, which some of the

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children needed. You needed to put some of these children

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on hard surfaces to be able to resuscitate them. That’s

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why we even have some of them on the floor.

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Our goal at that point was to make sure that

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there was no casualty. We want to use this medium

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to thank our able Governor for his passion for children,

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she added. In her response, the co Ordinator Office of

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the First Lady of Edo, missus Edisley of Pepolo Anone,

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noted that she was at the hospital on a fact

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finding mission concerning the incident that happened during the Children’s

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Day celebration. I have had a conversation with the CMD.

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The children of Fine and Day have been discharged and

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we are happy. I want to thank the management of

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the hospital for their swift response. The Governor would have

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loved to be here, but he is out for other

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official engagements. He had directed that I should come on

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my fact finding mission to see what is happening, she said.

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She however, described what happened during the Children’s Day celebration

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as unfortunate, but the good news was that response came fast,

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adding that safety of our children remains the priority of

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this administration. Also present at the hospital was the Special

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Adviser to the Governor on Health, doctor Yamou and the

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Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education, missus Ebmonni. In earlier press

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release issued on May twenty seventh, twenty twenty six, Hebergele

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stated that the Edo State government wishes to address some

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misleading social media narratives about today’s Children’s Day incident the

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Samuel Lgermudia Stadium. We hereby reject the sensational interpretations, spins,

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twists and misinformation that were dubiously orchestrated to give the

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government a bad name. The stadium was filled to capacity

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with thousands of excited children who came to participate in

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the day’s activities. The turnout was unprecedented. All the entrances

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into the facility were opened for children to access the stadium.

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Some excited children resorted to unruly behavior at one of

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the gates, an incident that led to some kind of stampede,

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which necessitated one of the bounces to deploy the use

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of tear gas to disperse them. In the cause of

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the pandemonium that ensued. Few students sustained injuries. The Deputy Governor,

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Right Honorable Denisidehosa, who was physically present at the stadium,

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rose to the challenger, immediately assisting children with first aids

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and those requiring further care were taken to the Edo

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Specialist Hospital, where they received appropriate medical attention and are

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now safely back home with their families. The Edo State

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government has already authorized investigations into the incident, while the

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bouncer involved is presently being interrogated by the police to

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ascertain the immediate or remote cause of the incident. The

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government wishes to restate its commitment to the safety and

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security of all, including our children. We however, call on

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social media uses to refrain from unverified narratives that could

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cause unnecessary panic. Isolated incidents at large gatherings, while regrettable,

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do not diminish Governor o Pepolo’s commitment to child safety

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and well being. The Governor’s unparalleled investment in education is

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the reason for the huge attendance by students of different

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schools in the state to celebrate Children’s Day. We thank

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the security personnel, medical staff and volunteers for their swift

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response and dedication to duty. Their immediate response helped to

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doass the tension. However, the American Lung Association, in its

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report on January twentieth, twenty twenty six, stated in part

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that crowd control agents, often referred to as tear gas,

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are chemicals that cause skin, respiratory and irritation. Some of

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the most common chemicals used a chlorostophenone CN, which is

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a toxic air pollutant, chlorobenzidi inmoloninitrial CS, chloropicrine ps, romobenzalcyanide CAA,

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and debenzoxesepine CR. While tear gas is typically perceived as

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causing mostly short term health impacts, there is evidence of

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permanent disability in some cases. In general, exposure to tear

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gas can cause chest tightness, coughing, a choking sensation, wheezing,

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and shortness of breath, in addition to a burning sensation

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in the eyes, mouth and nose, blurred vision, and difficulty swallowing.

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Tear gas can also so cause chemical burns, allergic reactions,

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and respiratory distress. People with pre existing respiratory conditions such

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as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD have a

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higher risk of developing severe symptoms of the disease that

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could lead to respiratory failure. Long term health effects from

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tear gas are more likely if exposed for a prolonged

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period or to a high dose while in an enclosed area.

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In these instances, it can lead to blindness, your coma,

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or respiratory failure, possibly resulting in death. If exposed to

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tear gas, the American Lung Association advises you to immediately

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distance yourself from the source and seek higher ground if possible.

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Flush your eyes with water, and use a gentle soap

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such as baby shampoo to wash your face to reduce

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skin and i irritation. Cut your clothes off rather than

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pulling them over your head to remove Leaving the area

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immediately for fresh air should help relieve respiratory cinsymptoms you

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may experience. If you are living with chronic lung disease

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or are experiencing lasting or worrisome symptoms, let your health

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care provide a know about your exposure. If breathing trouble

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persists or worsens, seek medical attention immediately bringing you bring

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the mont regital med