Over 100 Hospitalised In Ogun Schools After Gas Leak

Over 100 students and teachers from public secondary schools in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, were on Friday hospitalised after allegedly inhaling a suspected poisonous gas believed to have leaked from a nearby factory.

The victims were drawn from Anglican Girls Grammar School, Obalende, Our Lady of Apostle Secondary School, Epe Garage, and other public schools within Ijebu-Ode Local Government Area.

LEADERSHIP Weekend gathered that several students and teachers collapsed after inhaling the unidentified substance in what is reported to be the second such incident within two months. The victims were rushed to the State Hospital in Ijebu-Ode and other private health facilities across the town.

The incident triggered panic in the ancient town, forcing several public and private primary and secondary schools to shut down for the day as a precautionary measure.

Chairman of Ijebu-Ode Local Government Area, Hon. Dare Alebiosu, confirmed the incident but said he could not immediately verify the exact number of affected persons.

Alebiosu said he had opened discussions with the state government, adding that until the outcome of investigations by monitoring systems earlier deployed after a similar incident in April 2026 is concluded, the precise cause and extent of the incident remain uncertain.

Meanwhile, the Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, also confirmed the suspected gas leak, saying coordinated steps were already being taken by relevant agencies, including the Ministry of Education, the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA), security operatives and the local government, to restore normalcy.

In a statement, Oresanya said air quality monitoring devices installed at Ijebu-Ode Grammar School recorded elevated methane (CH₄) concentrations within the monitoring zone, with peak readings of about 13,500 parts per million in surrounding areas.

He explained that the monitoring system was part of the state’s continuous environmental surveillance programme designed to detect abnormal air quality conditions and support timely public health interventions.

According to him, while the recorded methane level remained below the lower explosive limit, it was still considered environmentally significant and required urgent technical investigation and precautionary response.

Oresanya said a multi-agency team had been activated to determine the source of the emissions, assess the extent of exposure, and evaluate the presence of other gases such as hydrogen sulphide (H₂S), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and related air quality parameters.

He urged residents to remain calm and continue their normal activities, while advising them to avoid open flames or ignition sources in areas where unusual gas odours are detected.