The Ogun State Government has ordered the closure of schools in parts of Ijebu land following another suspected gas-emission incident that reportedly left more than 100 students requiring medical attention.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, October 21, affecting schools across Ijebu-Ode, Ago-Iwoye and Ijebu-Igbo, where students and staff reportedly experienced breathing difficulties, drowsiness and fainting after inhaling an unusual gaseous substance.
Several affected students were taken to the State Hospital in Ijebu-Ode, the General Hospital in Ijebu-Igbo and other healthcare facilities for treatment as anxiety spread among parents, teachers and residents.
Among the schools reportedly affected were Ijebu-Igbo Girls Grammar School, Anglican Girls Grammar School in Ijebu-Ode and Itamerin Comprehensive High School in Ago-Iwoye, while activities were disrupted in other schools within the affected communities.
Witnesses reported that the situation began at approximately 10 a.m., when some students and members of staff started experiencing symptoms that included difficulty breathing and fainting, prompting urgent efforts to evacuate affected pupils and seek medical assistance.
The developing emergency also prompted some schools in Ago-Iwoye to suspend activities and send students home as the situation became increasingly concerning, while parents rushed to collect their children amid uncertainty about the substance in the air.
In response, the Ogun State Government said its officials and relevant agencies were assessing the affected locations and monitoring the condition of students who had been taken to hospitals.
According to reports published by Punch Newspapers on October 21, more than 30 students were attended to at the State Hospital in Ijebu-Ode during an assessment visit, with some patients requiring oxygen to stabilise their conditions.
Officials reportedly said most of the students treated at the facility had been discharged by the time the assessment team left, although a few remained under medical observation, while other affected pupils received treatment at different healthcare centres.
The latest development has renewed concerns about recurring gaseous emissions in the Ijebu area, where similar incidents have been reported several times since April 2026, raising questions about the safety of schools and surrounding communities.
During earlier incidents, the state government identified methane as the suspected gas after installing monitoring equipment in affected areas, while preliminary assessments pointed to possible underground emissions associated with geological formations and tectonic fault lines.
Authorities have previously said the available findings did not point to sabotage or a gas pipeline leak as the likely explanation, although investigations involving environmental and petroleum regulatory agencies and geological experts have continued.
The recurring nature of the incidents has increased pressure on authorities to establish the precise source of the emissions and determine how students, school workers and residents can be protected from further exposure.
The government’s response has involved relevant ministries, environmental officials and technical agencies, with assessments focusing on the affected school premises and surrounding communities where residents have also reported detecting the unusual odour.
The situation has also highlighted the importance of prompt emergency procedures in schools, including quickly moving students away from suspected exposure areas, contacting emergency services and ensuring that anyone experiencing breathing difficulties or fainting receives immediate medical attention.
Parents and school communities are likely to remain concerned until authorities can provide clearer findings on the source of the emissions and explain what measures will prevent a recurrence.
Although officials have indicated that the situation is under control, the repeated incidents mean that continued monitoring, transparent updates and effective safety measures will be important in restoring confidence among families.
The immediate priority remains the recovery of affected students and staff, the safe management of schools in the affected areas and the completion of investigations into the recurring emissions.