No fewer than 30 students and a teacher were taken to hospital on Wednesday after a suspected gas leak disrupted activities at Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.
The incident reportedly occurred shortly after the morning assembly, when an unidentified substance spread within the school premises, causing breathing difficulties among students and staff and triggering panic.
Witnesses said some of the students collapsed after inhaling the fumes, prompting school authorities to initiate an emergency response.
The affected individuals were thereafter conveyed to the General Hospital, Ijebu Ode, for treatment.
While early reports hinted at a possible explosion in the vicinity, other accounts suggested the incident might have originated from the school’s laboratory during a practical session.
It was learnt that a piece of equipment may have accidentally fallen, releasing a chemical substance into the air.
However, the Vice Principal (Junior School), Mrs Adeola Borogun, refuted claims of any explosion, explaining that the situation involved a strange odour that led to vomiting and fainting among students, necessitating the call for ambulances.
The Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, also confirmed the development as a gas leak, ruling out industrial pollution or any form of explosion.
He stated that efforts were underway to determine the exact source of the emission.
According to him, a gas analyser would be deployed to the scene to identify the nature and concentration of the substance, noting that there are no industrial facilities in the area that could have caused such pollution.
Oresanya further disclosed that all the affected students were in stable condition and responding well to treatment.
Similarly, the Chief Medical Director of the General Hospital, Ijebu Ode, Dr Banjo Adeoye, confirmed receiving 30 students and one teacher, adding that most of them had stabilised, though the exact substance responsible remained unknown.
Also, the Chairman of Ijebu Ode Local Government, Dare Alebiosu, said no fatalities were recorded, assuring that the victims were receiving adequate medical care and showing signs of recovery.
