The Ogun State government says the situation arising from an unusual gaseous odour reported across parts of the Ijebu axis is under control, after an assessment of affected schools and hospitals, even as investigations continue into the latest incident that left several secondary school students requiring medical attention.

Wednesday’s incident, reported in Ijebu-Ode, Ijebu-Igbo and Ago-Iwoye, triggered panic among students, teachers, parents and residents, with some affected pupils rushed to hospitals for treatment.

Schools reportedly affected included Ijebu-Igbo Girls Grammar School; Anglican Girls Grammar School, Ijebu-Ode; Itamerin Comprehensive High School; and some schools in Ago-Iwoye. A video circulating on social media showed pupils apparently fainting and being taken to hospital.

A teacher at one of the affected schools, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the incident began around 10 a.m. when students and staff began experiencing breathing difficulties, with some collapsing.

“The pupils and staff started inhaling the gas and began to have difficulty breathing. Some of them fainted and were rushed to hospitals,” the teacher said.

Some schools in Ago-Iwoye were forced to close around 11 a.m. as the situation worsened, the teacher added. “The worst-hit schools include Ijebu-Igbo Girls Grammar School and Anglican Girls Grammar School in Ijebu-Ode. Some parents who heard about the incident also came to pick up their children because nobody knew what was happening.”

The teacher said emissions had reportedly affected schools in the area since April, leaving pupils and staff anxious about their health and safety. “I think it is taking the government too long to get to the root of this mysterious gas leakage. The government has to do something quickly before it gets too late.”

Wednesday’s episode was the fourth reported incident of unusual gaseous emissions in the Ijebu axis since April 2026. About 40 pupils were reportedly affected in April, more than 120 were hospitalised after an incident in May, and a further occurrence on June 1 left 69 pupils requiring medical attention. Schools affected in 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.

Assessment team visits hospital, schools

A government assessment team visited the General Hospital, where more than 30 students were reportedly attended to, before proceeding to Ijebu-Igbo Girls Grammar School to assess the situation and investigate the possible source of the odour.

Information from the affected students and the attending doctor indicated symptoms including shortness of breath, stomach disorders and drowsiness. Some students required oxygen to stabilise, while others received less intensive treatment. By the time the team left, most had been discharged, with a few remaining under observation.

The team also inspected the affected school premises and surrounding areas. Findings suggested the phenomenon was not confined to school premises, as residents of neighbouring communities also reported perceiving the odour. The Chairman of Ijebu North Local Government Area confirmed the odour was perceived at the council secretariat. A team from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) also arrived at the scene to join the assessment and investigation.

Government blames underground gas emissions

State Commissioner for Environment Ola Oresanya had previously attributed earlier occurrences to natural underground gas emissions associated with geological and tectonic fault lines, ruling out sabotage or a gas pipeline leak.

Kehinde Bello, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor and General Manager of the Ogun State Environmental Agency, who visited affected areas in Ijebu-Ode and Ijebu-Igbo, linked the latest incident to underground gas emissions previously recorded in the area. He said the situation was under control and assured residents the government would keep working towards a lasting solution, urging calm and noting that affected pupils were expected to recover after treatment.

Bello advised residents exposed to the odour to cover their noses and mouths with wet handkerchiefs rather than wear nose masks.

Following an earlier occurrence, Governor Dapo Abiodun said the state was collaborating with the Ministries of Environment and Health, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, and the Department of Geology at Olabisi Onabanjo University to determine the cause. He disclosed that gas analysers had been installed in affected schools, with preliminary findings pointing to methane.

“Preliminary findings suggest 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,” Abiodun said in June.

However, the precise source of the emissions and their potential health and environmental implications remain subjects of further investigation. The involvement of technical authorities including the NUPRC is expected to provide additional insight.

As of the time of filing this report, medical personnel were attending to affected pupils at various hospitals, with a few students still under observation. The recurring incidents have heightened concerns among residents, particularly parents and teachers, over potential health risks, with many awaiting the outcome of investigations and the implementation of lasting measures to prevent further occurrences.