Over 100 students and teachers have been rushed to hospitals following a suspected gas leak that affected several schools in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, on Friday, March 15. The incident triggered panic as students suddenly fell ill during school hours.
Schools Affected and Immediate Response
The gas leak impacted multiple institutions, including Anglican Girls Grammar School, Obalende, and Our Lady of Apostle Secondary School, Epe Garage. Eyewitnesses reported that many students complained of stomach pain, weakness, and difficulty breathing before collapsing. A hospital source described the situation as more severe than a similar case recorded weeks earlier in the same town, stating that the entire hospital was full.
Emergency Measures Taken
Videos shared online showed students fleeing classrooms while teachers carried fainted pupils into vehicles for urgent medical care. Several victims were taken to the State Hospital in Ijebu Ode, while others were moved to private clinics due to overcrowding. A teacher at one of the affected schools called for immediate assistance as the situation escalated.
Authorities Detect High Methane Levels
The Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, confirmed that agencies from education, environmental protection, emergency response, and security had been deployed to the area. Air monitoring systems detected unusually high methane levels in parts of Ijebu Ode, with readings reaching approximately 13,500 parts per million. Although this level remains below the threshold considered immediately explosive, authorities described it as a serious environmental concern.
Government teams are now working to trace the source of the gas and check for other harmful substances, such as hydrogen sulphide or volatile organic compounds. Residents have been advised to stay calm, continue normal activities, but avoid fire or anything that could trigger ignition in areas where unusual smells are noticed.
Context of Similar Incidents
In a related development, 37 miners were feared dead after a suspected toxic gas exposure at a mining site in Company Zurak, Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State. Community leaders reported that the miners were working deep underground when they encountered the gas. Some survivors were rushed to nearby hospitals for emergency treatment as authorities sealed off the area. Security operatives later cordoned off the site to prevent further exposure, raising concerns over unsafe mining practices and weak regulation in the region.
Previously, a 20-year-old student of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, was found dead in his rented apartment in the Emure-Ile area of Ondo State after neighbours raised an alarm over a strong odour from the room. The student, identified as Audi Emmanuel, was discovered after neighbours forced entry into his apartment and found his lifeless body hanging inside. The Ondo State Police Command confirmed the incident as a suspected suicide and said investigations are ongoing, while the body has been deposited in a morgue for autopsy and further examination.
