More than 100 students from several secondary schools in Ijebu-Ode, Ago-Iwoye and Ijebu-Igbo in Ogun State were reportedly hospitalised on Wednesday after inhaling an offensive gaseous substance in the latest occurrence of a recurring environmental incident that has sparked fear among residents.
The affected students were taken to the State Hospital, Ijebu-Ode, the General Hospital, Ijebu-Igbo, and other healthcare facilities for medical attention after experiencing breathing difficulties and other distressing symptoms.
Schools reportedly affected by the latest incident include Ijebu-Igbo Girls Grammar School, Anglican Girls Grammar School, Ijebu-Ode, and Itamerin Comprehensive High School, Ago-Iwoye, among others.
A video circulating on social media showed some students collapsing and being rushed to hospitals following exposure to the unidentified substance, which the Ogun State Government had previously identified as methane.
A teacher at one of the affected schools, who described the incident as frightening, said the gas emission began at about 10 a.m., leaving students and members of staff struggling to breathe.
“The students and staff started inhaling the gas and began having difficulty breathing. Some fainted and were subsequently rushed to hospitals,” the teacher said.
According to the teacher, the situation deteriorated rapidly in some schools in Ago-Iwoye, forcing administrators to suspend academic activities for the day.
“Some schools in Ago-Iwoye had to close for the day around 11 a.m. as the situation became increasingly horrible and unbearable. The worst-hit schools include Ijebu-Igbo Girls Grammar School and Anglican Girls Grammar School in Ijebu-Ode,” the teacher added.
The incident also prompted worried parents to rush to the affected schools to take their children home, amid uncertainty over the source and potential health implications of the gas.
“Some parents who heard about the unfortunate incident also came to pick up their children because nobody knows what is happening. We even heard that this gas leak has been occurring since April, sending hundreds of students to hospitals whenever it appears unexpectedly,” the teacher said.
Expressing concern over the repeated occurrences, the teacher called on the state government to intensify efforts to establish the cause of the emissions and prevent further exposure.
“We are all anxious about our health and that of our students. I think it is taking the government too long to get to the root of this mysterious and potentially deadly gas leak. The government has to act quickly to address the situation before it is too late,” the teacher said.
Fourth Incident Since April
The latest occurrence is reportedly the fourth time the mysterious gas emission has disrupted schools and unsettled communities across Ijebu land.
In April, about 40 students were reportedly affected by an earlier incident. Another occurrence in May reportedly led to the hospitalisation of more than 120 students, while at least 69 students were hospitalised on June 1 following a fresh exposure.
The June incident was subsequently linked to methane after investigations and gas analysis by the authorities.
Schools affected in previous occurrences include Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, Epe Garage, Ijebu-Ode; Anglican Girls Grammar School, Ijebu-Ode; and St. Anthony Grammar School, Ijebu-Imusin, among others.
The repeated incidents have heightened concerns among parents, teachers and residents, particularly over the safety of students and the possibility of further emissions while investigations into the phenomenon remain ongoing.
Government Investigates Possible Geological Causes
Speaking after the June incident, Governor Dapo Abiodun said the state government was working with relevant environmental, health and technical agencies to determine the source of the emissions.
He disclosed that the Ministries of Environment and Health were collaborating with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and the Department of Geology at Olabisi Onabanjo University to establish the root cause.
“Twice now, we have recorded cases of pollution in this school and some neighbouring schools. What is interesting is that the gas pollution occurred at about the same time in the affected schools—about three schools altogether—and this happened on two separate occasions,” the governor said.
Abiodun explained that the government had installed gas analysers in affected schools following the initial occurrence to identify the substance and determine its concentration.
“Following the first occurrence, we installed gas analysers across the schools to determine the nature and concentration of the gas, which has now been confirmed to be methane,” he said.
The governor added that preliminary findings pointed to possible geological factors, including fault lines beneath the affected locations, as a potential explanation for the recurring emissions.
“Preliminary findings suggest that there may be geological factors involved, possibly fault lines common to these locations, which could be responsible for the emissions. We are awaiting the final report from the professionals handling the investigation,” Abiodun said.
Government Assures Residents
When contacted on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, gave assurances that the government was responding to the latest incident.
“We are on top of the situation,” Oresanya said.
Meanwhile, the General Manager of the Ogun State Environmental Agency, Kehinde Bello, visited affected areas in Ijebu-Ode and Ijebu-Igbo to assess the situation.
Bello attributed the latest occurrence to underground gas emissions, which he said had previously been recorded in Ijebu-Ode since April 2026.
He maintained that the situation was under control and assured residents that the government would work towards finding a lasting solution.
According to Bello, investigations by the authorities indicated that the phenomenon was a natural occurrence associated with geological and tectonic fault lines, rather than sabotage or a gas pipeline leak.
He urged residents to remain calm, assuring them that the affected students were expected to recover after receiving medical attention.
Bello also advised residents exposed to the offensive odour to cover their noses and mouths with wet handkerchiefs rather than wear nose masks.
Despite the government's assurances, the latest incident has renewed calls for a swift conclusion to the investigations and the implementation of effective preventive measures to protect students, teachers and other residents from further exposure.