Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
For the third time in less than two months, a cloud of toxic gas has forced students and teachers at Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School in Ijebu‑Ode, Ogun State, to flee their classrooms in panic, with dozens hospitalised after experiencing breathing difficulties, weakness and, in some cases, loss of consciousness. The latest incident occurred on Wednesday, 3 June 2026, during school hours when a pungent, suffocating odour suddenly enveloped the premises located near the Epe Garage area of the town. The Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, confirmed that 60 students were affected, and that the government has now traced the source of the recurring emissions to a gas facility located behind the school. Governor Dapo Abiodun has ordered the immediate closure of the school and the creation of a situation room at the State General Hospital, Ijebu‑Ode, which is offering free treatment to all victims. The government has also announced that it will shut down the gas company responsible for the leak as investigators work to prevent a fourth occurrence.
The incident began around midday when students and teachers suddenly noticed a strong, foul smell spreading through the school premises. Almost immediately, complaints of discomfort, difficulty in breathing and general weakness began to pour in. A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the scene as chaotic. “The gas leak occurred during school hours, and students and teachers suddenly noticed a pungent smell that caused discomfort, breathing difficulties and panic,” the resident told Punch. “Some of the affected students and staff were taken to the General Hospital, Ijebu‑Ode, for treatment. A number of them were still receiving medical attention as of Wednesday. The common complaints were weakness, discomfort and, in some cases, loss of consciousness.” The victims were swiftly evacuated to the State General Hospital, Ijebu‑Ode, where they continue to receive medical care.
The latest incident marks the third gas‑related health emergency to hit the Ijebu‑Ode area in under eight weeks. On Wednesday, 1 April 2026, at least 30 students and two teachers of the same Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School were hospitalised after a suspected gas leak on the premises. At the time, officials believed the fumes may have emanated from nearby carbide cylinders or a bush behind the school. Barely six weeks later, on Friday, 15 May 2026, a more widespread air pollution incident threw the community into panic, affecting over 100 students and teachers from at least seven schools, including Anglican Girls Grammar School, Obalende, and Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School. The May incident forced the government to activate a multi‑agency environmental and public health assessment team comprising environmental regulators, emergency responders and technical air quality experts, and to deploy air quality monitoring devices in the area.
Commissioner Oresanya confirmed that those monitoring devices have finally enabled the government to pinpoint the source of the emissions. “Through our installed monitoring devices, we have detected the source of the gas emission. The leakage is coming from behind Our Lady of Apostles School, Ijebu‑Ode,” Oresanya told Punch. He added that the government had identified a gas facility in the area as the culprit. “It was gas pipeline leakage from a company. We are not taking chances. We are going to shut down the gas company,” he said. The commissioner did not immediately disclose the name of the facility or the specific gas involved, but earlier statements indicated that monitoring equipment had detected methane gas as the likely primary emission. Oresanya assured the public that the government is taking immediate steps to address the situation and prevent a recurrence.
The pattern of recurring emissions has ignited outrage among parents, residents and civil society groups, who accuse authorities of moving too slowly despite clear warning signs. On 15 May, the Ogun State Government had already announced the activation of a multi‑agency team to determine the source of the emissions, assess spatial extent and exposure risk, and evaluate associated gases such as hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Yet, less than three weeks later, another leak occurred. The National Coordinator of the Food and Farmers Rights Campaign, John Eko, called on Governor Abiodun to ensure a lasting solution. “It is disturbing that this mysterious gas leak has occurred again for the third time in two months. No one can accurately determine the damage prolonged exposure may be causing to the health of residents,” Eko said. “We appeal to the government to deploy every available resource to identify the cause and provide a permanent solution.”
In the wake of the latest incident, Governor Dapo Abiodun has ordered the immediate closure of Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School and directed the opening of a situation room at the General Hospital, Ijebu‑Ode, which will coordinate emergency response and offer free treatment to all affected students and residents of impacted areas such as Makalewo, Ogbogbo, Molipa, Igbegba, Ikoto and the Oke‑Aje market. The police have also called for calm, saying the situation is under control. However, for the parents whose children have now been rushed to hospital for the third time in two months, the government’s response has been too little, too late. As one resident put it, “The government must urgently get to the root of this problem. This is the third incident in two months, and residents are becoming increasingly worried about the health implications.”
The Ogun State Government has yet to issue a full public report on the findings of its environmental assessment team, and no criminal charges have been announced against the owners of the gas facility identified as the source of the leak. As of Thursday, 4 June 2026, the school remains closed, and the affected students continue to receive medical care at the General Hospital. For a community that has now endured three toxic emissions in eight weeks, the question is no longer whether the gas will return, but whether the government will finally act before a fourth leak turns a health scare into a public health catastrophe.
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