Over 100 students were reportedly hospitalised after suspected gas emissions affected schools in Ogun State, renewing concerns over recurring incidents.
Repeated reports of suspected gas emissions in Ogun State have raised fresh concerns about the safety of secondary school students after more than 100 pupils were reportedly taken to hospitals following another incident in the Ijebu area.
The latest occurrence, reported on Wednesday, affected schools in Ijebu-Ode, Ago-Iwoye and Ijebu-Igbo, where students and members of staff allegedly experienced breathing difficulties. Some students reportedly collapsed during the incident, prompting emergency responses and the suspension of academic activities in some schools.
The development has renewed pressure on the Ogun State Government to establish the source of the suspected emissions, particularly as similar incidents have been reported in the area over the past several months.
Affected students were taken to various healthcare facilities, including the State Hospital in Ijebu-Ode and the General Hospital in Ijebu-Igbo. Other medical centres in the area also reportedly received some of the affected pupils.
Although the precise number of students who received treatment had not been independently confirmed, a teacher familiar with the latest incident described the situation as frightening.
Parents rush to schools following reports of collapsed students
The incident reportedly began around 10 a.m., according to a teacher at one of the affected institutions who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The teacher said students and staff members began experiencing difficulties breathing, with some subsequently fainting and requiring urgent medical attention.
As the situation worsened, some schools in Ago-Iwoye reportedly sent students home before the end of the school day.
The teacher said the decision was prompted by concerns about the safety of those within the school premises.
Parents who received information about the incident also reportedly rushed to collect their children, fearing that continued exposure to the suspected substance could put them at greater risk.
Schools mentioned in connection with Wednesday’s occurrence included Ijebu-Igbo Girls Grammar School, Anglican Girls Grammar School in Ijebu-Ode and Itamerin Comprehensive High School in Ago-Iwoye.
Videos shared on social media appeared to show students collapsing and receiving assistance as people attempted to arrange medical care for them. The footage further heightened anxiety among residents already concerned about previous incidents.
The teacher said the repeated occurrences had become a source of worry for school communities, adding that authorities needed to move beyond preliminary investigations and determine what was causing the problem.
Earlier incidents raise questions about school safety
Wednesday’s incident reportedly followed three previous occurrences involving suspected gas emissions in parts of Ijebu land since April 2026.
Available reports indicate that approximately 40 students were affected during the first incident in April.
Another occurrence in May reportedly resulted in more than 120 students being hospitalised, while 69 students were said to have required medical attention following a further incident on June 1.
The schools previously associated with the incidents included Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School in the Epe Garage area of Ijebu-Ode, Anglican Girls Grammar School in Ijebu-Ode and St Anthony Grammar School in Ijebu-Imusin.
The recurrence has raised concerns about whether the measures introduced after earlier incidents have been sufficient to protect students and school employees.
It has also increased calls for a clearer explanation of why the suspected emissions continue to occur and whether the affected schools face a common environmental risk.
For parents, the immediate concern is the safety of their children. Teachers, meanwhile, face the challenge of maintaining normal academic activities while uncertainty persists over the cause of the reported symptoms.
However, the available information does not conclusively establish the source of Wednesday’s suspected emission or confirm that every reported incident had the same cause.
What the Ogun Government has discovered so far
The state government began investigating the phenomenon following earlier reports of students falling ill in affected schools.
Governor Dapo Abiodun said in June that the investigation involved the Ministries of Environment and Health, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and the Department of Geology at Olabisi Onabanjo University.
According to the governor, gas analysers had been installed in affected schools to help determine the composition and concentration of the substance detected during previous occurrences.
Abiodun disclosed that methane had been identified during the earlier investigation. He also said preliminary findings suggested that geological features, including possible fault lines, could be connected to the phenomenon.
The governor explained that the investigation was continuing and that the government was awaiting a final report from the professionals examining the matter.
The findings, however, should not be treated as definitive proof of the cause of the latest incident. Establishing the source of the emissions would require the relevant experts to assess the latest occurrence and determine whether it is connected to the earlier findings.
Environmental officials respond to the latest incident
The Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, said the state government was monitoring the situation when contacted on Wednesday.
“We are on top of the situation,” he said.
Kehinde Bello, the governor’s Senior Special Assistant and General Manager of the Ogun State Environmental Agency, also visited affected locations in Ijebu-Ode and Ijebu-Igbo to assess developments.
Bello said the reported occurrences were associated with underground gas phenomena previously recorded in the area.
He added that preliminary investigations pointed towards possible geological and tectonic fault lines rather than deliberate sabotage or a gas pipeline leak.
The official urged residents to remain calm, expressing hope that students receiving treatment would recover.
He also advised people exposed to the odour to cover their noses and mouths with wet handkerchiefs rather than use nose masks.
However, a wet handkerchief cannot reliably protect someone from hazardous gases. Anyone experiencing breathing difficulties following suspected exposure should move away from the source to fresh air, where safe, and seek immediate medical assistance.
Investigation remains crucial
The latest reports have brought renewed attention to the need for a conclusive explanation of the suspected emissions affecting communities in Ijebu land.
While the government has disclosed preliminary findings from previous investigations, residents still need clear information about the source of the suspected gas, the risks it may pose and the steps required to prevent further incidents.
The reported involvement of multiple schools makes it particularly important for authorities to communicate verified findings to parents, teachers and affected communities.
As of the time of filing this report, students were reportedly receiving medical attention at hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
The immediate priority remains the wellbeing of those affected, alongside a thorough investigation that can establish the circumstances surrounding Wednesday’s incident and guide appropriate preventive measures.