More than 100 students and teachers were hospitalised on Friday after a suspected gas leak spread across multiple schools in Ijebu-Ode, marking the second major gas-related incident to hit the town in less than two months.
The latest incident affected several schools, including Anglican Girls Grammar School at Obalende and Our Lady of Apostle Secondary School near Epe Garage, alongside other schools within the area. Students and teachers reportedly began experiencing sudden illness during school hours, leading to widespread panic across the affected communities.
Witnesses said many students suddenly complained of dizziness, stomach pain, breathing difficulties, weakness, nausea, and fainting while classes were ongoing. Videos circulating online showed terrified pupils running out of school compounds as teachers and emergency responders attempted to evacuate affected victims for treatment.
Several victims were rushed to the Ogun State General Hospital and nearby private medical facilities as anxious parents flooded hospitals and school premises searching for their children.
One eyewitness who spoke to reporters from the hospital described the incident as more severe than the previous gas-related emergency recorded in April.
According to the witness, hospital wards quickly became overcrowded as affected students continued arriving from multiple schools across the town.
Officials of the Ogun State Ministry of Environment confirmed the incident and said emergency response teams had been deployed immediately after reports emerged. Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, stated that the government had begun environmental assessments to determine the source of the suspected gas emissions.
The commissioner disclosed that air quality monitoring devices installed within the town recorded elevated methane concentrations in parts of Ijebu-Ode, with readings reportedly peaking around 13,500 parts per million in some surrounding areas.
According to the state government, while the methane levels remained below the lower explosive limit, the readings were considered environmentally significant enough to require urgent investigation and public health intervention.
Authorities said a multi-agency team involving environmental regulators, emergency response officials, technical air quality experts, health authorities, and security agencies had been mobilised to trace the source of the emissions and determine whether other hazardous gases may also be present in the environment.
The government stated that investigators would assess possible exposure to gases including hydrogen sulphide and volatile organic compounds, which can trigger respiratory distress, headaches, nausea, and unconsciousness in exposed individuals.
Officials including Dare Alebiosu and the Managing Director of the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency were reportedly seen visiting affected schools and hospitals to assess the situation and monitor emergency response efforts.
Residents and parents expressed outrage over the recurrence of the incident, accusing authorities of failing to properly identify and address the source of the earlier suspected leak that occurred in April.
The latest emergency has revived memories of the April 1 incident at Our Lady of Apostle Secondary School, where at least 30 students and one teacher were hospitalised after exposure to a strange chemical odour shortly after morning assembly.
During the earlier incident, students reportedly began vomiting, coughing, and collapsing as panic spread through the school compound. Ambulances from the General Hospital in Ijebu-Ode were deployed to evacuate victims for emergency treatment.
At the time, school officials dismissed reports of an explosion and described the situation as exposure to a mysterious gaseous substance or chemical odour.
Investigators during the April incident considered several possible causes, including laboratory chemical exposure and gas emissions from surrounding communities. However, authorities had not publicly announced a conclusive cause before Friday’s renewed outbreak.
Friday’s development led to fresh fear across schools and residential communities in Ijebu-Ode, with some reports indicating that several schools shut down abruptly as parents rushed to evacuate their children from affected areas.
Health experts warn that prolonged exposure to methane or other airborne chemical pollutants in enclosed or densely populated environments can pose serious health risks, particularly to children and individuals with respiratory conditions.
As of Friday night, no deaths had been officially confirmed, while many of the affected students and teachers were reportedly responding to treatment.
Stone Reporters note that the repeated incidents have intensified concerns over environmental monitoring, public safety preparedness, and the proximity of possible hazardous emissions to schools and residential areas in Ogun State.
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