200 people affected by mysterious gas that hits Ogun schools three times in 64 days

… Incidents in April, May and June spark panic in Ijebu-Ode

… Students and teachers hospitalized as cause remains unknown

…Parents are calling for urgent action from the government

Daud Olatunji

A disturbing pattern of mysterious gas emissions has thrown schools in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, into repeated crises, with around 200 students and teachers affected in three separate incidents in 64 days, raising concerns of a looming environmental and public health emergency.

The latest incident occurred on Wednesday, June 3, at Our Lady of the Apostles Secondary School, where students and staff members reportedly suffered breathing difficulties and other health complications after smelling a strange chemical odor during school hours. The victims were rushed to hospital for treatment as panic spread through the community.

The June episode occurred just 19 days after a similar event on May 15 and about two months after the first incident reported on April 1, making it the third gas-related emergency to hit area schools in just over two months.

An analysis of the three accidents shows that at least 130 victims were officially reported in the first two incidents alone, while authorities have yet to reveal the number of victims of Wednesday’s accident. With several students and teachers hospitalized again on June 3, the cumulative figure is believed to have topped 200.

The first alarm was raised on April 1 when around 30 students and teachers at Our Lady of the Apostles Secondary School were hospitalized after inhaling vapors suspected of coming from a nearby source.

The incident disrupted academic activities and sparked fears among parents and residents. Investigators at the time ruled out the presence of pipelines or industrial facilities near the school and suggested that the emissions could have resulted from human activities involving carbide cylinders.

However, before the situation calmed down, a second and more serious incident occurred on May 15, affecting over 100 students and teachers at several schools, including Anglican Girls’ Grammar School, Obalende and Our Lady of Popes Secondary School. Victims have reportedly complained of stomach pain, dizziness, weakness and respiratory distress, while hospitals in Ijebu-Ode have been overwhelmed by the influx of patients.

The Ogun State Government subsequently dispatched emergency response teams and installed air quality monitoring equipment in the area. Data from the device later revealed elevated methane concentrations of around 13,500 parts per million within the monitoring zone, prompting authorities to launch a multi-agency environmental investigation.

Despite these measures, Wednesday’s anniversary has intensified concerns that the source of the emissions remains unsolved.

Parents who besieged the school after the latest incident expressed frustration at what they described as the government’s failure to identify and eliminate the cause of the recurring incidents.

Many have called for an independent environmental audit of the area, warning that repeated exposure to unidentified gases could pose long-term health risks to students and teachers.

Environmental experts have also raised concerns about the frequency of incidents, pointing out that three events in 64 days suggest the existence of a persistent emission source or repeated hazardous activity within the location.

Environment Commissioner Ola Oresanya had earlier assured residents that the government was working with environmental regulators, emergency responders and air quality experts to trace the source of the emissions and prevent further occurrences.

However, as another school day ended in panic on Wednesday, many residents said the reassurance was no longer enough.

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