Thirty pupils and an educator were taken to hospital following a gas leak incident at an educational institution in Ogun.

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By James Ogunnaike

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No fewer than 30 students and a teacher were, on Wednesday, hospitalised following a suspected gas leak at Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

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The incident, which occurred shortly after the morning assembly, reportedly threw the school into panic as a strange gaseous substance spread across the premises, leaving several students and staff gasping for breath.

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Eyewitnesses said the situation quickly turned chaotic as many of the affected students began to collapse.

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“They suddenly started coughing and struggling to breathe. Some fainted on the spot,” a source disclosed.

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The affected students, alongside a teacher, were immediately evacuated to the General Hospital, Ijebu-Ode, for urgent medical attention.

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While the exact cause of the incident remains unclear, opinions among sources were divided. Some linked it to a possible gas emission within the school, while others attributed it to a chemical odour believed to have emanated from the laboratory during a practical session for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination.

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It was further gathered that a laboratory apparatus may have accidentally fallen during the exercise, allegedly releasing a substance that permeated the school environment.

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Reacting, the Vice Principal (Junior School), Mrs Adeola Borogun, dismissed claims of an explosion, describing the incident as a “strange chemical odour” that triggered immediate emergency response.

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“It was not an explosion. We perceived a strange smell within the premises, and some students began vomiting and fainting. We promptly contacted the General Hospital for ambulances,” she said.

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Also confirming the development, the Chief Medical Director of the General Hospital, Ijebu-Ode, Dr Banjo Adeoye, disclosed that 30 students and one teacher were treated at the facility.

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“Most of them are stable and responding well to treatment. However, the exact substance responsible is yet to be identified,” Adeoye stated.

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Similarly, the Chairman of Ijebu-Ode Local Government, Hon. Dare Alebiosu, who visited the victims at the hospital, assured that all affected persons were in stable condition and that no life was lost.

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“The situation is under control. We will carry out a thorough investigation to determine the cause,” he said, urging parents to monitor their children for any unusual symptoms.

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On his part, the State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Ola Oresanya, described the incident as a gas leakage, noting that efforts were underway to ascertain its source.

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“Some say it originated from the school laboratory, while others believe it came from the surrounding community. We are deploying a gas analyser to determine the type and concentration,” he said.

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Oresanya, however, ruled out the possibility of industrial pollution.

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“There is no industrial gas facility in the area, so it cannot be industrial pollution,” he added.

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He also dismissed reports of an explosion.

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“There was no explosion whatsoever. It is simply a gas leakage from an unknown source. The affected students are stable and doing well,” the commissioner assured.

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