The methane gas scare worsened in Ogun as the government evacuated schools after new gas exposure incidents

The Ogun State Government has ordered the temporary relocation of students of Our Lady of the Apostles Girls’ Grammar School, Ijebu-Ode, following repeated cases of gas exposure affecting hundreds of students across schools in the area over the past two months.

Governor Dapo Abiodun announced the decision during an inspection visit to the affected schools, and said the measures were necessary to protect students and staff while experts conducted a detailed investigation into the source of the contamination.

According to the governor, initial assessments have confirmed the presence of methane gas at the affected sites, raising new concerns regarding the safety of educational institutions in the region.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade.

Abiodun explained that the state government had deployed a team of experts drawn from relevant agencies and institutions to uncover the causes of the recurring emissions and recommend permanent solutions.

Among those involved in the investigation are officials from the Ministry of Environment and Health, Nigeria’s Lower and Middle Petroleum Regulatory Authority, as well as geologists from Olabisi Onabanjo University.

Expressing concern over the pattern of incidents, the governor noted that several schools had experienced similar incidents under almost identical circumstances.

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“We have recorded two cases of pollution at this school and several surrounding schools.

“What’s interesting is that the gas pollution occurred at almost the same time in the affected schools—about three schools—and this happened on two different occasions.

“After the first incident, we installed gas analyzers throughout the school to determine the nature and concentration of the gas, which has now been confirmed to be methane gas.

“Preliminary findings suggest there may be geological factors involved, perhaps fault lines common to the site, which may be responsible for the emissions.

“We are waiting for the final report from the professionals who handled the investigation,” he said.

The governor emphasized that the safety of students, teachers and residents remains the government’s top priority, ensuring that no efforts are wasted in identifying the origin of the gas and preventing similar incidents in the future.

It also sought to dispel rumors that the incident was the result of deliberate human activity targeting schools, and emphasized that current evidence points to a natural phenomenon.

“In the meantime, we have evacuated students from the school. Rumors that this incident was deliberately targeted at the school are unfounded and should be ignored. It appears this is a natural occurrence, and we are determined to resolve it.

“The students have been temporarily relocated, and until we are confident that the environment is completely safe and conducive to learning, they will not return. We will continue to investigate the cause of this situation and take all necessary steps to address it,” the governor added.

This latest evacuation follows a series of worrying incidents that rocked communities in Ijebu-Ode and Ijebu-Imushin.

Records show that incidents of gas exposure have been reported three times in the last two months in schools across the affected areas, including Our Lady of the Apostles Secondary School located around the Epe Garage axis in Ijebu-Ode.

The first incident, which occurred in April, reportedly affected around 40 students. A second incident in May left more than 120 students hospitalized, while another 69 students were said to have been treated for new exposures as of June 1.

In many cases, victims reportedly fainted or lost consciousness shortly after inhaling the gas. Others complain of difficulty breathing, stomach ache, weakness and general discomfort.

Residents described a panicked scene when students and teachers suddenly felt an unpleasant odor during school hours before many began showing symptoms associated with inhaling the gas.

A resident, who did not want to be named, said the unexpected incident sparked confusion and fear among students and staff, forcing emergency evacuations and medical intervention.

Some of the affected students were rushed to the General Hospital, Ijebu-Ode, for treatment, and some were reportedly still receiving medical attention at the time of the latest government intervention.

As the investigation continues, residents anxiously await definitive answers regarding the source of the methane emissions and assurances that schools in affected communities can resume operations in a safe environment.