More than 100 students from secondary schools in Ijebu-Ode, Ago-Iwoye and Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State, were reportedly hospitalised on Wednesday after suspected toxic gas emissions caused breathing difficulties and fainting among students and staff.
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 reportedly affected by the latest incident include Ijebu-Igbo Girls Grammar School, Anglican Girls Grammar School in Ijebu-Ode and Itamerin Comprehensive High School in Ago-Iwoye.
A video circulating on social media showed some students fainting and being rushed for medical attention, triggering panic among parents and residents.
The incident has renewed concerns about recurring gas emissions in parts of Ijebu land, with school communities calling on the Ogun State Government to identify the source and prevent further exposure.
Students, staff struggle to breathe
A teacher at one of the affected schools, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the incident began at about 10 a.m. on Wednesday, when students and staff started experiencing breathing difficulties.
“The students and staff started inhaling the gas and began to have difficulty breathing. Some of them fainted and had to be rushed to hospitals,” the teacher said.
According to the teacher, some schools in Ago-Iwoye were forced to close at about 11 a.m. as the situation worsened.
The teacher said worried parents also rushed to the schools to take their children home because the source of the emissions remained unclear.
The teacher further alleged that similar incidents had occurred since April, with hundreds of students reportedly requiring hospital treatment whenever the emissions resurfaced.
The repeated occurrences have heightened fears among residents, who want the government to conclude its investigation and provide a lasting solution.
Fourth reported incident since April
Wednesday’s occurrence was reportedly the fourth incident involving suspected gas emissions in 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 exposure in May.
On June 1, another incident reportedly sent 69 students to hospitals.
Schools affected by previous occurrences included Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School in Epe Garage, Ijebu-Ode; Anglican Girls Grammar School, Ijebu-Ode; and St Anthony Grammar School, Ijebu-Imusin.
The recurrence in some of the same locations has raised questions about the safety of students and staff, particularly as the cause of the emissions has yet to be conclusively established.
Ogun government investigates suspected methane emissions
Following earlier incidents, Governor Dapo Abiodun said the state government was working with relevant agencies and experts to determine the cause.
The Ministries of Environment and Health were reportedly collaborating with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and the Department of Geology at Olabisi Onabanjo University as part of the investigation.
Speaking in June, Abiodun said gas analysers had been installed in affected schools to determine the nature and concentration of the emissions.
According to the governor, the gas had been identified as methane.
“Following the first occurrence, we installed gas analysers across the schools to determine the nature and concentration of the gas, which has now been confirmed to be methane,” he said.
The governor also said preliminary findings suggested that geological factors, including possible fault lines, could be responsible. However, he noted that the government was awaiting the final report from the professionals conducting the investigation.
When contacted on Wednesday, the 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, said the latest occurrence was linked to underground gas activity previously recorded in the affected areas.
Bello, who visited parts of Ijebu-Ode and Ijebu-Igbo to assess the situation, said the government was working towards finding a permanent solution.
He 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.
Bello urged residents to remain calm, adding that the affected students were expected to recover after receiving medical attention.
He also advised residents exposed to the odour to cover their noses and mouths with wet handkerchiefs instead of wearing nose masks.
However, the precise source of the emissions and the reason for their repeated occurrence remain unresolved.
As of the time of filing the report, medical personnel were reportedly attending to affected students at general hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
The latest incident has intensified calls for a conclusive investigation and effective safety measures to protect students and school staff from further exposure.
