Panic as gas emission hospitalize students, disrupts schools in Ogun

Several secondary school students have been hospitalised following a reported outbreak of methanel emission in Ijebu-Ode, Ijebu-Igbo and Ago-Iwoye in Ogun State.

The incident occurred on Wednesday morning, affecting students of Anglican Girls Grammar School, including its public and private sections, in Obalende, Ijebu-Ode, as well as Ijebu-Igbo Girls Grammar School.

Some of the affected students were taken to general hospitals in Ijebu-Ode and Ijebu-Igbo for medical attention.

The unpleasant odour also disrupted academic activities in Ago-Iwoye, forcing some schools to close unexpectedly and send students home.

However, the General Manager of the Ogun State Environmental Agency (OGEPA), Kehinde Bello, who was on the ground to assess the situation in Ijebu-Ode and that of Ijebu-Igbo, disclosed that the latest occurrence was linked to underground gas emissions previously recorded in Ijebu-Ode since April 2026.

Bello stated that the state government was working on the situation with the aim of finding a lasting solution.

He said government investigations had indicated that the phenomenon was a natural occurrence associated with geological and tectonic fault lines, rather than sabotage or a gas pipeline leak.

He urged residents to remain calm, assuring them that the affected students were expected to recover after receiving medical attention.

“We left the General Hospital earlier, where over 30 students were attended to for common symptoms, according to the doctor, and the findings from the affected students include shortness of breath, stomach disorder, drowsiness, among others.

“While some of them needed oxygen to be stabilised, others just needed minor medical attention. As at the time we were leaving the hospital, most of the students had been discharged, but a few are still under monitoring,” he said.

“We are presently at Ijebu Igbo Girls Grammar School for assessment and further investigations. We also checked the surrounding area. This odour was not peculiar to the schools alone; those in the environs were also affected.

“The Ijebu North LG Chairman also confirmed that he perceived the odour at the LG secretariat too,” Bello added.

Meanwhile, residents who were exposed to the odour have been advised to cover their noses and mouths with wet handkerchiefs rather than wear nose masks.

The latest incident has renewed concerns over the recurrence of methane emissions in the affected communities, particularly their impact on schools and the safety of children.

The Ogun State Government in June attributed the methane emissions recorded in some schools in Ijebu-Ode to natural underground ecological causes, dismissing speculations linking the incidents to spiritual myths or security threats.

The Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, said scientific investigations identified methane and sulphide gases as the major emissions escaping through underground fractures along established fault lines.

The affected areas, according to Oresanya, fall within the Ifewara-Zungeru Trans-Atlantic fault line, which stretches from Mojoda through Ijebu-Ode to Osun and Niger states.

He also noted that the affected part of Ijebu-Ode was historically forested and largely uninhabited before missionary schools were established there.

Follow Very Nigerian WhatsApp Channel
For Verified Breaking News, Exclusive Reports, Trending Stories, And Real-time Updates.
CLICk HERE TO JOIN!