Fear and confusion gripped Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, on Friday after a suspected toxic gas emission swept through several schools, leaving more than 90 students hospitalised and forcing many others to flee their classrooms in panic.
The incident reportedly affected students of Anglican Girls’ Grammar School (AGGS) and other nearby schools in the ancient town, barely weeks after a similar strange chemical odour disrupted academic activities in the area.
Eyewitnesses said the unusual smell quickly spread across parts of Ijebu-Ode, including the Epe Garage and Obalende areas, triggering anxiety among residents, parents and school authorities.
Several students who reportedly complained of abdominal pain, dizziness, nausea and breathing difficulties were rushed to the State General Hospital in Ijebu-Ode for emergency treatment.
According to reports by The Guardian, schools affected by the incident include Anglican Girls’ Grammar School, Our Lady of Apostles Girls’ School, Ijebu-Ode Grammar School and Sambadola Private School.
A video shared on Facebook by Awogbagbe Babamekunnu showed worried parents and guardians trooping to the General Hospital in search of their children and wards following the incident.
The development has renewed concerns over environmental safety and air pollution monitoring in Ijebu-Ode, especially after repeated reports of suspected chemical emissions in the town earlier this year.
Attempts by SaharaReporters to get comments from the Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, were unsuccessful as calls to his mobile phone were not answered.
However, the Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Professor Abayomi Arigbabu, later visited the State Hospital and urged parents not to panic while affected students received medical attention.
He disclosed that both federal and state environmental agencies had been contacted for immediate intervention and investigation into the suspected gas leak.
Speaking on the incident, the General Manager of the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA), Kehinde Bello, said air quality monitoring devices installed across Ijebu-Ode detected elevated methane concentrations in parts of the town.
According to Bello, methane readings reportedly climbed to about 13,500 parts per million (ppm) in some locations, which he described as environmentally significant, although still below the lower explosive limit.
He explained that the monitoring devices were installed under the state government’s environmental surveillance programme designed to detect unusual air quality conditions and support emergency health responses.
Bello further disclosed that the Ogun State Government had activated a multi-agency environmental and public health assessment team made up of environmental regulators, emergency response officials and air quality experts to uncover the source of the emission.
He advised residents to remain calm but warned against the use of open flames or ignition sources in areas where unusual gas odours are detected.
“Any symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, nausea or respiratory discomfort should be promptly reported to nearby health facilities,” Bello warned.
He added that the government would continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as investigations progress.
