No fewer than 100 students and teachers were hospitalised on Friday following exposure to a suspected chemical odour in parts of Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.
PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the incident affected multiple schools, including Anglican Girls Grammar School, Obalende, and Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, Epe Garage, among others.
Sources said the victims suddenly developed symptoms such as stomach aches, weakness and breathing difficulties after inhaling the substance, prompting an emergency response.
The affected students were rushed to the State Hospital, Ijebu-Ode, as well as nearby private medical facilities for urgent treatment.
Confirming the development, the Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, said relevant government agencies had swung into action to contain the situation.
He disclosed that officials from the ministries of environment and education, alongside security agencies and local government authorities, were collaborating to manage the crisis and prevent further exposure.
Oresanya, in a statement on Friday, revealed that an air quality monitoring device installed at Ijebu Ode Grammar School detected elevated levels of methane gas in the area.
According to him, the device recorded about 13,500 parts per million of methane concentration in the surrounding environment.
He explained that although the level remained below the lower explosive limit, it required urgent investigation and precautionary safety measures.
“The monitoring system is part of the state’s environmental surveillance programme designed to detect abnormal air quality conditions,” he said.
The commissioner added that the government had activated a multi-agency environmental and public health assessment team to determine the source of the emission and evaluate the risks.
He noted that the investigation would also cover other potentially harmful gases, including hydrogen sulphide and volatile organic compounds.
While urging residents to remain calm, Oresanya advised them to avoid open flames in areas with unusual gas odours and to seek immediate medical attention if they experience symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, nausea or respiratory discomfort.
He assured the public of the state government’s commitment to safeguarding lives and maintaining environmental safety, adding that updates would be provided as investigations progress.
Meanwhile, findings showed that a similar incident occurred in April at Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School in the area, where over 30 students and a teacher were hospitalised after inhaling a suspected chemical substance.
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