Over 100 Ogun Students Hospitalised After Inhaling Toxic Gas

More than 100 students from several secondary schools in Ogun State have reportedly been hospitalised after inhaling an offensive gaseous substance that spread across parts of Ijebu-Ode, Ago-Iwoye and Ijebu-Igbo on Wednesday.

The affected students were taken to the State Hospital in Ijebu-Ode, the General Hospital in Ijebu-Igbo and other healthcare facilities after experiencing breathing difficulties and fainting.

Among the schools reportedly worst affected were Ijebu-Igbo Girls Grammar School, Anglican Girls Grammar School in Ijebu-Ode and Itamerin Comprehensive High School in Ago-Iwoye.

A teacher at one of the affected schools said the incident began at about 10 a.m., when students and staff started experiencing breathing difficulties, with some collapsing and requiring urgent medical attention.

Some schools in Ago-Iwoye reportedly suspended academic activities around 11 a.m. as the situation worsened, while concerned parents rushed to collect their children amid uncertainty over the source of the emissions.

The latest occurrence is the fourth reported incident involving gaseous emissions in the affected communities since April 2026.

The first incident in April reportedly affected about 40 students, while more than 120 students were hospitalised following another exposure in May. A further 69 students were reportedly taken to hospital after a similar occurrence on June 1.

Previous incidents affected schools including Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School in Ijebu-Ode and St Anthony Grammar School in Ijebu-Imusin.

The recurring episodes have heightened concerns among parents, teachers and residents over the safety of students and the need to establish a permanent solution to the problem.

In response to earlier incidents, the Ogun State Government installed gas analysers in affected schools to determine the nature and concentration of the emissions. Governor Dapo Abiodun disclosed in June that tests had identified methane, while preliminary findings suggested that geological factors could be responsible.

The government had been working through its Ministries of Environment and Health, alongside the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and the Department of Geology at Olabisi Onabanjo University, to investigate the cause.

The Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, said the government was responding to the latest incident.

Kehinde Bello, General Manager of the Ogun State Environmental Agency, who visited the affected areas, linked Wednesday’s occurrence to underground gas emissions previously recorded in the communities.

Bello said government investigations indicated that the phenomenon was associated with geological and tectonic fault lines rather than sabotage or a gas pipeline leak. He assured residents that the situation was under control and that authorities were working towards a lasting solution.

He urged residents to remain calm and advised those exposed to the odour to cover their noses and mouths with wet handkerchiefs.

Medical personnel were attending to the affected students as of Wednesday, while the repeated incidents continued to raise concerns about environmental safety and the protection of schoolchildren in the affected areas.