Ogun Poisonous Gas Emission Under Control, Affected Students Discharged

All the over 100 Ogun State students hospitalised on Wednesday as a result of the poisonous gas emission they inhaled have been discharged from the medical facilities they were rushed to for treatment.

The state government also confirmed that the poisonous leak has been brought under control.
LEADERSHIP Friday gathered that the affected students were discharged late Wednesday afternoon from all the medical facilities between 6p.m. and 7p.m. across the three Ijebu towns of Ijebu-Ode, Ijebu-Igbo and Ago-Iwoye in Ijebu North local government areas.

Reliable sources in the three towns confirmed to our correspondent that over 30 students were admitted at the State Hospital in Ijebu-Ode, while over 40 were taken to government’s medical facility, as well as other privately-owned facilities in Ago-Iwoye, with about 30 others treated at the State Hospital in Ijebu-Igbo.

Meanwhile, a statement issued by the state government late on Wednesday, said the unusual gaseous odour had been put under control, adding that investigations had been intensified to unravel the incident which left several secondary school students requiring medication.

The statement, made available to newsmen by the special adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, explained that a government assessment team visited the General Hospital in Ijebu-Ode, “where more than 30 students were attended to, before proceeding to Ijebu-Igbo Girls Grammar School for further assessment and investigation”.

Akinmade in the statement explained that findings from the affected students and information provided by the attending doctors clesrly indicated that by the time the assessment team left the hospital, most of the students had been discharged, while a few remained under medical observation.

“The team also inspected the school premises and surrounding areas as part of efforts to establish the extent of the incident and identify possible sources of the odour”.

“The assessment indicated that the phenomenon was not restricted to school premises, as residents in neighbouring communities also reported perceiving the odour. The Chairman of Ijebu North Local Government Area equally confirmed that the odour was perceived at the council secretariat”.

“A team from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) arrived at the scene to participate in the assessment and ongoing investigation”.

LEADERSHIP Friday however, recalled that the Wednesday’s incident happened to be the 4th time when such life threatening gaseous emissions would be occurring in Ogun State, after the first incident in April this year, followed by others also in May and June, 2026.

Meanwhile, the statement quoted the state Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya as attributing the previous occurrences to natural underground gas emissions associated with geological and tectonic fault lines, ruling out sabotage or a gas pipeline leak as the cause.

Akinmade however, disclosed further that investigations into Wednesday’s incident are still continuing, with the involvement of relevant technical authorities expected to provide further insight into the source of the odour and its potential health and environmental implications.

“The government is expected to sustain its monitoring of the affected areas and the condition of the students who remain under medical observation”.

Meanwhile, parents and other critical stakeholders have continued to express serious concerns over the sad incident which they said is gradually becoming a usual monthly occurrence.

One of such stakeholders is the Ijebu Igbo Youth Development Association (IIYDA) which expresses deep concern ober the incident, but expressed relief that no life was lost during the trauma.

While sympathising with the affected students, residents and their families and wishing them speedy recovery, IIYDA also commended the swift response of the Executive Chairman Ijebu North Local Government, ‘Bolaji Odusanya for his coordination of emergency response.

“We appreciate the medical personnel at the General Hospital, Ijebu Igbo and other healthcare facilities for their professionalism, dedication and timely care of the affected persons.”

IIYDA in a statement signed by its chairman, Alhaji Sulaiman Olusoga Alebiosu however, urged the Ogun State Government and Ijebu North Local Government to ensure a thorough investigation into the incident, establish the source and cause of the gaseous substance and implement lasting measures to prevent a recurrence.