The Ogun State Government has ordered the closure of schools in Ijebu-Ode, Ago-Iwoye, and Ijebu-Igbo after more than 100 pupils were hospitalised on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, following exposure to an offensive gaseous substance. This marks the fourth such incident in the area since April, with pupils and staff reporting breathing difficulties and fainting.
Affected pupils were taken to the State Hospital in Ijebu-Ode, the General Hospital in Ijebu-Igbo, and other healthcare facilities, where medical personnel were attending to them. The closure was announced by the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun, which has been grappling with recurring gas emissions in the region.
Schools Affected and Immediate Response
Among the worst-affected schools were Ijebu-Igbo Girls Grammar School, Anglican Girls Grammar School in Ijebu-Ode, Itamerin Comprehensive High School, and schools in Ago-Iwoye. As reported by The Punch, a teacher at one of the schools, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the trouble began around 10am when pupils and staff started struggling to breathe.
“The pupils and staff started inhaling the gas and began to have difficulty breathing. Some of them fainted and were rushed to hospitals,” the teacher said. Some schools in Ago-Iwoye shut their gates around 11am as the situation worsened, and parents who heard about the incident rushed to collect their children.
The teacher expressed concern about the recurrence of the emissions, noting that the government needed to act faster. “We are all anxious about our health and that of our pupils. I think it is taking the government too long to get to the root of this mysterious gas leakage. The government has to do something quickly before it gets too late,” the teacher added.
Recurring Incidents Since April
The latest incident was the fourth recorded occurrence since April. About 40 pupils were affected in April, more than 120 were hospitalised in May, and 69 needed medical care following another incident on June 1. Schools previously caught up in earlier episodes include Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, Epe Garage, Ijebu-Ode, and St Anthony Grammar School, Ijebu-Imusin.
The state Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, linked the incident to previous underground gas emissions that have occurred intermittently in Ijebu-Ode since April 2026, according to The Guardian.
Government Investigation and Preliminary Findings
Governor Dapo Abiodun said in June that his administration was working with the Ministries of Environment and Health, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, and the Department of Geology at Olabisi Onabanjo University to find the cause of the emissions. He said gas analysers had been installed in affected schools and that preliminary findings pointed to methane.
“Preliminary findings suggest there may be geological factors involved, possibly fault lines common to these locations, which could be responsible for the emissions. We are awaiting the final report from the professionals handling the investigation,” the governor said.
Kehinde Bello, a senior special assistant to the governor and general manager of the Ogun State Environmental Agency, who visited affected communities, said investigations suggested the emissions were a natural geological phenomenon linked to tectonic fault lines rather than a pipeline leak or sabotage. Bello urged residents exposed to the smell to cover their noses and mouths with wet handkerchiefs rather than nose masks. He said the affected pupils were expected to recover after receiving treatment.
Related Gas Seepage Reports in Rivers
In a related development, Legit.ng reported that the federal government launched an investigation into reports of gas seepage in the Bille community of Rivers State. Residents reported unusual bubbling in nearby water bodies, prompting authorities to activate a joint response. Relevant agencies, including the NUPRC and NOSDRA, have begun field investigations, as the government assures safety.
