Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
IJEBU ODE, NIGERIA — A suspected gas leak spread through several schools in Ijebu Ode on the morning of Friday, May 15, 2026, sending more than 100 students and several teachers to hospitals with symptoms of stomach ache, weakness, dizziness and respiratory distress, marking the second such incident in less than two months. The affected institutions included Anglican Girls Grammar School, Obalende, and Our Lady of Apostle Secondary School, Epe Garage. A video posted on Facebook showed students running out of one of the schools in panic while teachers assisted those who had fainted into vehicles for urgent medical attention. Victims were rushed to the Ogun State Hospital, Ijebu Ode, and to private medical facilities within the town.
An eyewitness who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity described the scene as far more severe than the previous gas leak in April. “I am right now at the Ogun State Hospital, Ijebu Ode, and I can tell you that the previous gas leak which happened last month is a child’s play when compared to this one,” the witness said. “The whole hospital here is full, and some parents have even taken their children to private hospitals for treatment. The affected students are complaining of stomach ache and they are weak.” The witness added that the incident affected multiple schools and that over 100 students were said to be affected.
The Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, confirmed the incident and stated that relevant agencies had been deployed to the affected areas. “I am aware of the situation, and necessary action is being taken by the Ministry of Education, OGEPA, security agents, and the local government,” he said. Officials including the Chairman of Ijebu Ode Local Government, Dare Alebiosu, and the Managing Director of OGEPA, Kenny Bello, were seen visiting affected areas to assess the situation and ensure victims received medical care.
In a statement issued on Friday, Oresanya said air quality monitoring devices in the area had recorded elevated methane (CH₄) levels, with peak readings of approximately 13,500 ppm in surrounding locations. While the level was below the lower explosive limit, it was deemed environmentally significant. The commissioner said the monitoring system forms part of the state’s environmental surveillance programme for early detection of abnormal air quality conditions. In response, the state government activated a multi‑agency environmental and public health assessment team comprising environmental regulators, emergency response services, and technical air quality experts to determine the source of the emissions, assess spatial extent and exposure risk, and evaluate associated gases such as hydrogen sulphide (H₂S), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and other relevant air quality parameters.
The state government advised residents to remain calm and continue normal activities while avoiding open flames or ignition sources in areas where unusual gas odours are detected. Symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, nausea, or respiratory discomfort should be reported to nearby health facilities immediately. The government reiterated its commitment to safeguarding lives, public health and environmental integrity, promising further updates as investigations progress.
The May 15 incident follows a similar gas leak on April 2, 2026, at Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, Ijebu Ode, which hospitalised no fewer than 30 students and one teacher. That incident occurred shortly after morning assembly, when a gaseous substance spread across the school premises, causing breathing difficulties, vomiting and fainting among students and staff. Governor Dapo Abiodun ordered the immediate closure of the affected school and directed a full investigation. At the time, the government shut down the school while security agencies worked to determine the cause of the leak, which was suspected to have emanated from nearby carbide cylinders.
The recurrence of toxic emissions in the same town within two months has raised urgent questions about industrial safety, waste disposal practices and air quality monitoring in Ogun State’s industrial corridor. Ijebu Ode lies in an area with a concentration of manufacturing plants and storage facilities, some of which handle chemicals that can release hazardous gases if improperly managed. The state government has promised that its multi‑agency team will not only investigate the source of the latest leak but also assess the cumulative exposure risk to the surrounding population. Until the cause is identified and remedied, students, teachers and residents of Ijebu Ode must live with the fear that another invisible cloud could descend on their schools at any moment.
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