More than 100 students from several secondary schools in Ijebu-Ode, Ago-Iwoye and Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State, were hospitalised on Wednesday after inhaling an offensive gaseous substance in what authorities have linked to underground methane emissions previously recorded in parts of Ijebu land.
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The affected students were taken to the State Hospital, Ijebu-Ode, the General Hospital, Ijebu-Igbo, and other healthcare facilities after some experienced breathing difficulties and fainted.
Among the schools said to have been badly affected were Ijebu-Igbo Girls Grammar School, Anglican Girls Grammar School, Ijebu-Ode, and Itamerin Comprehensive High School, Ago-Iwoye.
Videos circulating on social media showed some students being rushed for medical attention after experiencing distress following exposure to the substance.
A teacher at one of the affected schools said the incident began at about 10 a.m., with both students and staff experiencing difficulty breathing.
“The students and staff started inhaling the gas and began having difficulty breathing. Some fainted and were subsequently rushed to hospitals,” the teacher said.
According to the teacher, some schools in Ago-Iwoye were forced to close at about 11 a.m. as the situation became increasingly difficult, while concerned parents arrived to take their children home.
“Some schools in Ago-Iwoye had to close for the day around 11 a.m. as the situation became increasingly horrible and unbearable. The worst-hit schools include Ijebu-Igbo Girls Grammar School and Anglican Girls Grammar School in Ijebu-Ode.
“Some parents who heard about the unfortunate incident also came to pick up their children because nobody knows what is happening,” the teacher added.
The teacher expressed concern about the recurring nature of the incidents and called on the state government to determine the source and provide a permanent solution.
“We are all anxious about our health and that of our students. I think it is taking the government too long to get to the root of this mysterious and potentially deadly gas leak. The government has to act quickly to address the situation before it is too late,” the teacher said.
Wednesday’s incident is the latest in a series of similar occurrences recorded across parts of Ijebu land since April 2026.
The first incident in April affected about 40 students, while more than 120 students were hospitalised following another exposure in May. At least 69 students were also hospitalised on June 1 following another gas emission, which authorities subsequently identified as methane.
Schools affected during previous incidents included Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, Epe Garage, Ijebu-Ode; Anglican Girls Grammar School, Ijebu-Ode; and St. Anthony Grammar School, Ijebu-Imusin.
Following the earlier incidents, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun said the Ministries of Environment and Health were working with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and the Department of Geology at Olabisi Onabanjo University to determine the source of the emissions.
Abiodun said gas analysers had been installed in affected schools and confirmed that the gaseous substance detected was methane.
“Twice now, we have recorded cases of pollution in this school and some neighbouring schools. What is interesting is that the gas pollution occurred at about the same time in the affected schools — about three schools altogether — and this happened on two separate occasions.
“Following the first occurrence, we installed gas analysers across the schools to determine the nature and concentration of the gas, which has now been confirmed to be methane.
“Preliminary findings suggest that there may be geological factors involved, possibly fault lines common to these locations, which could be responsible for the emissions. We are awaiting the final report from the professionals handling the investigation,” the governor had said.
Reacting to Wednesday’s incident, the Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, said the government was handling the situation.
“We are on top of the situation,” he said.
The General Manager of the Ogun State Environmental Agency, Kehinde Bello, also visited the affected areas in Ijebu-Ode and Ijebu-Igbo to assess the situation.
Bello linked the latest incident to underground gas emissions that had previously been recorded in Ijebu-Ode since April 2026.
He said investigations conducted by the government indicated that the phenomenon was a natural occurrence associated with geological and tectonic fault lines rather than sabotage or a gas pipeline leak.
Bello assured residents that the situation was under control and that the government was working towards finding a lasting solution.
He also expressed optimism that the affected students would recover after receiving medical attention.
The environmental agency chief advised residents who encounter the offensive odour to cover their noses and mouths with wet handkerchiefs rather than rely on nose masks while the authorities continue efforts to address the recurring emissions.
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