By Divine Sam

The Ogun State Government has ordered the closure of some schools in Ijebu-Ode, Ago-Iwoye and Ijebu-Igbo following the hospitalisation of more than 100 pupils after suspected exposure to an offensive gaseous substance.

The incident occurred on Wednesday, with affected pupils rushed to the State Hospital in Ijebu-Ode, the General Hospital in Ijebu-Igbo and other medical facilities for treatment.

Among the schools reportedly worst affected were Ijebu-Igbo Girls Grammar School, Anglican Girls Grammar School in Ijebu-Ode, Itamerin Comprehensive High School and some schools in Ago-Iwoye.

A video circulating on social media showed pupils reportedly collapsing and being taken to hospitals as the situation unfolded. Although the state government had previously identified methane as the suspected substance, investigations into the precise source of the recurring emissions are ongoing.

A teacher at one of the affected schools, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said pupils and staff began experiencing breathing difficulties at about 10am, with some collapsing shortly afterwards.

“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.

According to the teacher, some schools in Ago-Iwoye had to close by about 11am as the situation worsened and concerns over the safety of pupils and staff grew.

“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 added.

The teacher expressed concern that the recurring emissions had continued to pose health risks since the first reported incident in April, urging the government to expedite efforts to identify and address the source.

“We are all anxious about our health and that of our pupils. 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,” the teacher said.

Wednesday’s incident marks the fourth reported occurrence of gaseous emissions in the Ijebu area since April, raising renewed concerns about the safety of schoolchildren, teachers and other residents.

In April, about 40 pupils were reportedly affected, while more than 120 people were hospitalised following another incident in May. A further occurrence on June 1 reportedly left 69 pupils requiring medical attention.

Other schools previously affected include Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, Epe Garage, Ijebu-Ode; Anglican Girls Grammar School, Ijebu-Ode; and St Anthony Grammar School, Ijebu-Imusin.

Following earlier incidents, Governor Dapo Abiodun said the state government was working 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 of the emissions.

The governor also disclosed that gas analysers had been installed in affected schools, while preliminary findings pointed to methane as the suspected substance.

“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.

When contacted on Wednesday, the state Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, said the government was on top of the situation.

The governor’s Senior Special Assistant and General Manager of the Ogun State Environmental Agency, Kehinde Bello, who visited affected areas in Ijebu-Ode and Ijebu-Igbo, also linked the latest incident to underground gas emissions previously reported in the area.

Bello maintained that the situation was under control and assured residents that the government was working towards finding a lasting solution.

He said investigations had suggested that the phenomenon could be a natural occurrence associated with geological and tectonic fault lines, rather than sabotage or a gas pipeline leak.

Bello urged residents to remain calm, adding that the affected pupils were expected to recover after receiving medical attention.

He also advised residents who encountered the odour to cover their noses and mouths with wet handkerchiefs rather than wear nose masks.

As of the time of filing this report, medical personnel were attending to affected pupils at various hospitals.

The latest incident has intensified calls for a conclusive investigation and effective preventive measures to stop the recurring emissions and protect pupils, school staff and residents from further exposure.