A fresh suspected gas leak on Wednesday disrupted academic activities at Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, leaving several students hospitalised and prompting another government investigation into recurring air pollution incidents in the area.
The incident occurred when a pungent odour suddenly spread across the school premises, causing breathing difficulties and discomfort among students and teachers. Although the exact number of affected persons was not immediately available as of press time, victims were reportedly evacuated to the General Hospital, Ijebu-Ode, where they received medical attention.
Confirming the development, the Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, said the government had commenced investigations to determine the source of the emission. “Yes, it’s true. It happened yesterday,” Oresanya said. “We are working to find the cause of the leakage. We will soon issue an official statement on it.”
The latest incident marks the third reported case of suspected gas emissions affecting schools in the Ijebu-Ode area within the last two months, raising concerns among residents and education stakeholders. On April 1, no fewer than 30 students of Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School were hospitalised after a similar incident on the school premises. Several students and teachers reportedly experienced breathing difficulties after fumes believed to have emanated from nearby carbide cylinders spread across the school environment. Following an inspection of the area at the time, Oresanya disclosed that government officials discovered a nearby bush and suspected that the fumes may have originated from the location.
Barely six weeks later, on May 15, another air pollution incident threw the community into panic after a suspected gas leak affected Anglican Girls Grammar School, also in Ijebu-Ode. Several students reportedly fainted and were rushed to the General Hospital, Ijebu-Ode, for treatment.
In response to the recurring incidents, Oresanya said the state government had activated a multi-agency environmental and public health assessment team comprising environmental regulators, emergency responders and technical air quality experts. According to him, the team was mandated to identify the source of the emissions, determine the extent of exposure and assess potential health risks to residents and students.
“The team is tasked with determining the source of the emissions, assessing the spatial extent and exposure risk, and evaluating associated gases such as hydrogen sulphide (H₂S), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and other relevant atmospheric parameters,” the commissioner said.
Authorities are yet to establish the exact cause of the recurring emissions, while investigations continue.
