15 pupils at Masala Secondary school in Ndola were yesterday gassed with unknown chemicals.
Acting Copperbelt Police Commanding Officer, Tresphord Kasale confirmed that unknown poison was used to intoxicate the pupils who had assembled while being addressed by the school head teacher.
Mr. Kasale said police visited the school but that no poisonous substance or materials was picked from the scene.
“We have a report that unknown people had gassed pupils at Masala secondary school and have since arrested three suspects,” he said.
Mr. Kasale also revealed that three juveniles aged 16 and 17 have been arrested to help with investigations on the matter.
And Ndola District Education Board Secretary- DEBS, Patrick Kaonga said in a phone interview that the incident happened when some pupils who were facing discipline action repelled and decided to hire a gang in the township.
Mr. Kaonga said a huge gang armed with various weapons such as iron bars and some unknown chemical in the bottle came and sprayed the chemical on the pupils who were at the assembly.
He stated the incident happened yesterday around 16:45 when the pupils were about to knock off.
“The pupils were in the school hall together with some teachers when the thugs threw the bottle containing the said chemical on the gathering and from which we had the casualties amounting to 14 pupils who rushed to Ndola Teaching Hospital where they are currently admitted,” Mr. Kaonga said.
Meanwhile, Copperbelt province Deputy Permanent Secretary Daniel Kamenga who visited the pupils at the hospital described the incident as unfortunate and commended management at the hospital for swiftly attending to the pupils.
And in an interview with ZANIS, Ndola Teaching hospital doctor Johnson Matolo who attended to the pupils confirmed that most of the pupils presented heart palpitation and chest pains.
Dr. Matolo said after treatment and thorough observation, most of the pupils are stable and have been discharged except two who are on oxygen.
“Mr Kasale said police visited the school but no poisonous substance or material was found at the scene”. How possible is this? The substance was thrown at the assembled pupils during daylight and no one made sure it was secured and handed to the police. Was it due to panick? The story is not adding up. Whatever the truth, the security services hv to up their game and find out what’s going on in youth gangs on the Copperbelt.
And Ndola District Education Board Secretary- DEBS, Patrick Kaonga said in a phone interview that the incident happened when some pupils who were facing discipline action repelled and decided to hire a gang in the township. SO IT’S EASY TO TRACE THE PERPETRATORS SINCE THE HIRERS ARE KNOWN.
As Home Affairs Minister Kampyongo was accused as the mastermind of the gassing project. Now is it Jack Mwiimbu at the center of the current incidents? This is why it’s important for the Police to ensure that investigations in cases of this nature are concluded. We can’t leave such matters to speculation. Mwami 1 must come in and find the gassers in all incidents. If he’s able to arrest people for crimes committed in 2015, then he can find all the gassers
We told you gassing was a upnd thing. They are in power and the gassing has continued
OBVIUOSLY THE RESOUNDING LOSS OF PF LAST YEAR WAS JUST TOO MUCH FOR THEM
NOW BLAMING UPND AFTER THE POPULATION IS BEHIND THEM
HOW STUPID IS STUPID ?
@ Ayatollah… they know the suspended pupils hired the “gasmen” so the investigation has been made simple. But as usual this will go to the dust bin unless it involves some political elements
I thought gassing was gone and dusted….oh – blast! I forgot no one was brought to book over this. Are the perpetrators back for round two..or is it three? Unbelievable!
#plant a tree please!
How can the chemical be unknown as at time of reporting? 21st Century na ma scientists mbweee!? No substance picked up at the scene? Nanga from the admitted casualties?
This gas came from those students who are stuck in Ukraine. That’s why I urge government to leave them their to rot. Those are not Zambians but PF stoogies . Look at all their surnames- only few of them sound Zambian & even those few Zambians are all from 1 or 2 two regions only. As confirmation that these were children’s of Tribalistic PF. Lusaka Times post their names here for people to see for themselves the truth.
@Nemwine it could just be a case of poor reporting. I never trust anything I read on Zambian news websites. They are very amateurish
This rabble rousing tribalist called Step aside should be banned from Zambia. LT remove him from your sites. He is only interested in dividing Zambians according to tribe. He is so archaic. A fossil that should be in a museum.
@9 ?? – You sound insular and exceptionally hateful – a despicable trait I can only attribute to where you hail from, and your upbringing. Get yourself a bit of education on Zambia and it’s diverse population; you will be a less sad human.
#plant a tree please!
Is that a picture of Masala secondary School on this story?
Step aside is just a f00Iish dog based in joburg who is suffering from the effects of xenophobia. Do not waste your time on that f00I. He is mentally retarded. He is a t0nga by the way