Over 100 students from secondary schools in Ijebu-Ode, Ago-Iwoye and Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State, have reportedly been hospitalised after exposure to an offensive gaseous substance on Wednesday, October 21, 2026.
According to The PUNCH, the affected students were rushed to the State Hospital, Ijebu-Ode, General Hospital, Ijebu-Igbo, and other healthcare facilities after experiencing breathing difficulties and fainting.
Schools reportedly affected include Ijebu-Igbo Girls Grammar School, Anglican Girls Grammar School in Ijebu-Ode and Itamerin Comprehensive High School in Ago-Iwoye.
The incident triggered panic among teachers and parents, with some schools suspending academic activities.
Students faint as gas spreads across schools
A teacher at one of the affected schools, who requested anonymity, disclosed that the incident began around 10 a.m.
According to the teacher, students and staff experienced breathing difficulties after perceiving the unusual odour.
“The students and the staff started inhaling this gas and began to have difficulty in breathing and were fainting,” the teacher said.
The teacher explained that the situation became so serious that some schools in Ago-Iwoye closed around 11 a.m.
Concerned parents also rushed to the affected schools to take their children home.
The teacher expressed frustration over the repeated incidents, urging the government to urgently identify and address the source of the emissions.
“We are all anxious about our health and that of our students,” the teacher added.
Ogun records fourth gas exposure incident
Wednesday’s incident marks another occurrence of unusual gaseous emissions affecting schools in the Ijebu area.
In April, approximately 40 students were reportedly hospitalised following a similar incident.
Another episode in May reportedly affected more than 120 students, while 69 students required medical attention after an incident on June 1.
Schools previously affected include Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, Anglican Girls Grammar School and St Anthony Grammar School.
The recurring incidents have raised concerns about the safety of students and teachers.
Government links emissions to underground fault lines
The Ogun State Government previously confirmed the presence of methane gas in affected areas following environmental investigations.
Governor Dapo Abiodun disclosed in June that the government had installed gas analysers to identify the substances involved.
He explained that preliminary investigations suggested a possible connection between underground geological formations and the recurring emissions.
“Preliminary findings suggest there may be geological factors involved, possibly fault lines common to these locations, which could be responsible for the emissions,” the governor said.
The state government subsequently engaged environmental specialists, petroleum regulators and researchers from Olabisi Onabanjo University to investigate the phenomenon.
Ogun government assures residents of safety
Reacting to Wednesday’s incident, the Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, assured residents that the government was responding to the situation.
“We are on top of the situation,” Oresanya said.
The General Manager of the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency, Kehinde Bello, also visited affected locations in Ijebu-Ode and Ijebu-Igbo.
Bello explained that the latest incident appeared connected to underground emissions previously recorded in the area.
He said government investigations indicated that the emissions were associated with geological and tectonic fault lines rather than sabotage or pipeline damage.
The official urged residents to remain calm and expressed confidence that affected students would recover after receiving medical treatment.
Parents demand lasting solution
The recurring incidents have renewed concerns among parents and school authorities about the safety of learning environments in the affected communities.
Residents have called for comprehensive investigations and permanent measures to prevent further exposure.
Medical personnel were attending to affected students at various hospitals as of the initial report.
The government has yet to announce a permanent solution to the recurring emissions or provide a final confirmed number of students affected by Wednesday’s incident.
