Chemical Odour Injures Over 90 Students as Panic Rocks Ijebu-Ode Schools
Barely one month after a chemical odour incident at Our Lady of Apostles Girls School in Ijebu-Ode, another suspected chemical emission has affected more than 90 students across several schools in the ancient town, triggering panic among residents, parents and school authorities. Many parents and guardians were seen rushing to schools to evacuate their children as the strange odour spread across parts of the city on Thursday.
Dozens of affected students were reportedly rescued and taken by emergency responders to the State Hospital in Ijebu-Ode for medical attention. A medical official at the hospital disclosed that many of the students complained of abdominal pain and other health-related symptoms. Some of the affected schools include Our Lady of Apostles Girls School, Anglican Girls Grammar School, Ijebu-Ode Grammar School, Sambadola Private School and other schools around the Epe Garage and Obalende areas of Ijebu-Ode.
The latest incident comes barely a month after several students in the town reportedly suffered health complications linked to a similar chemical odour outbreak. Eyewitnesses said the strange smell also spread to surrounding communities and streets within the area, causing anxiety among residents.
As of the time of filing this report, government officials were yet to arrive at the State Hospital, where many of the affected students were receiving treatment. However, the Commissioner for Education, Professor Abayomi Arigbabu, later visited the hospital and appealed to parents to remain calm and allow medical personnel to attend to the affected students. According to him, environmental officials from both federal and state agencies had been contacted for urgent intervention.
Speaking on the development, the General Manager of the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency, Kehinde Bello, said the air quality monitoring device installed at Ijebu-Ode Grammar School detected elevated methane concentrations within parts of the town. He disclosed that the device recorded methane levels peaking at approximately 13,500 parts per million (ppm) in some surrounding locations.
Bello explained that the monitoring equipment was deployed as part of the state government’s environmental surveillance programme aimed at detecting abnormal air quality conditions and supporting early public health response. He noted that although the methane concentration remained below the lower explosive limit, the readings were environmentally significant and required immediate technical investigation and precautionary measures.
According to him, the Ogun State Government has activated a multi-agency environmental and public health assessment team comprising environmental regulators, emergency response agencies and air quality experts. He advised residents to remain calm, continue normal activities, but avoid open flames or ignition sources in areas where unusual gas odours are detected. “Any symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, nausea or respiratory discomfort should be promptly reported to nearby health facilities,” he stated.
Bello added that the Ogun State Government remains committed to protecting public health and environmental safety, assuring residents that further updates would be provided as investigations progress.
