At least 100 students and teachers were hospitalised on Friday, May 15, following exposure to a suspected chemical odour in some schools in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.
The affected schools were reported to include Anglican Girls Grammar School, Obalende, and Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, Epe Garage. Students reportedly complained of stomach aches, weakness, and breathing difficulties after inhaling the unidentified substance.
The affected individuals were rushed to the State Hospital, Ijebu-Ode, while others were taken to private health facilities for treatment.
The Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, confirmed the incident, saying relevant agencies had already begun intervention measures.
He said the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Environment, security agencies, and local government authorities were jointly managing the situation.
In a statement issued on Friday, Oresanya disclosed that an Air Quality Monitoring Device installed at Ijebu-Ode Grammar School detected elevated methane concentrations in the area.
According to him, the device recorded methane levels of about 13,500 parts per million (ppm) in surrounding locations.
He explained that while the readings were below the lower explosive limit, they were still significant enough to require urgent technical investigation and precautionary action.
The state government, he added, would activate a multi-agency environmental and public health assessment team to determine the source of the emissions, assess exposure risks, and evaluate the presence of other gases in the environment.
Oresanya urged residents to remain calm and continue their normal activities, while advising them to avoid open flames in areas with unusual gas odours.
He also advised anyone experiencing symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, nausea, or respiratory discomfort to seek immediate medical attention.
