By Asaye Bankole
More than 100 students from secondary schools in Ijebu-Ode, Ago-Iwoye and Ijebu-Igbo areas of Ogun State were reportedly hospitalised on Wednesday following another suspected gas emission incident that left students and staff struggling to breathe, with some fainting.
The affected students were taken to the State Hospital in Ijebu-Ode, the General Hospital in Ijebu-Igbo and other healthcare facilities for treatment.
Schools affected by the incident included Ijebu-Igbo Girls Grammar School, Anglican Girls Grammar School in Ijebu-Ode and Itamerin Comprehensive High School in Ago-Iwoye, among others.
A teacher at one of the affected schools, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the incident began at about 10 a.m. when students and staff started experiencing breathing difficulties.
The teacher said some victims fainted and were rushed to hospitals, while some schools in Ago-Iwoye were forced to close for the day at about 11 a.m. as the situation worsened.
Some parents also reportedly rushed to their children’s schools to take them home amid fears over their safety.
The incident was said to be the fourth major occurrence involving suspected gas emissions in parts of Ijebu land since April 2026.
The first reported incident in April affected about 40 students, while more than 120 students were reportedly hospitalised following another occurrence in May.
On June 1, another incident reportedly left 69 students needing medical attention.
Previous incidents affected Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School in Epe Garage, Ijebu-Ode; Anglican Girls Grammar School, Ijebu-Ode; and St Anthony Grammar School, Ijebu-Imusin, among others.
The repeated incidents have raised concerns among residents, teachers and parents, who are demanding an urgent investigation into the source of the emissions and measures to prevent further occurrences.
Following previous incidents, Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, said the government was working with relevant agencies and experts to determine the cause.
He said the state 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 investigate the phenomenon.
Abiodun disclosed in June that gas analysers had been installed in affected schools to determine the nature and concentration of the emissions.
According to the governor, preliminary findings identified the gas as methane, while possible geological factors, including fault lines, were being investigated as potential causes.
He said the government was awaiting the final report from the experts conducting the investigation.
When contacted on Wednesday, the Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, said the government was monitoring the situation.
“We are on top of the situation,” he said.
Kehinde Bello, a Senior Special Assistant to the governor and General Manager of the Ogun State Environmental Agency, also said the government was working to find a lasting solution.
Bello, who visited affected areas in Ijebu-Ode and Ijebu-Igbo, said investigations suggested that the emissions could be a natural phenomenon associated with geological and tectonic fault lines rather than sabotage or a gas pipeline leak.
He urged residents to remain calm, adding that the affected students were expected to recover after receiving medical attention.
However, the precise source of the emissions and the reasons for their recurrence remain unclear, as residents continue to demand a conclusive investigation and urgent measures to protect students and school staff.
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