Panic swept across schools in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, on Thursday after a suspected chemical odour reportedly affected over 90 students, forcing parents and emergency responders to evacuate over a thousand pupils from different schools for urgent medical attention.
The strange odour, which spread across parts of the ancient town, triggered fear among residents and parents, many of whom rushed to various schools to withdraw their children amid concerns over their safety.
Affected students were evacuated to the State Hospital, Ijebu-Ode, where medical personnel attended to them for symptoms including abdominal pain and related health complications.
Schools reportedly affected by the incident include Our Lady of Apostles Girls School, Anglican Girls Grammar School, Ijebu-Ode Grammar School, Sambadola Private School, Adeola Odutola Secondary School, and St. Anthony School, Esure, in Ijebu Mushin.
Eyewitnesses said the unusual odour also affected residents in nearby communities and adjoining streets, causing widespread anxiety across the town.
The latest incident occurred barely one month after a similar chemical odour episode at Our Lady of Apostles Girls School left several students hospitalised.
Eyewitnesses say no government official had arrived at the State Hospital, where large numbers of worried parents and residents gathered while students received treatment.
However, the Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Professor Abayomi Arigbabu, appealed to parents to remain calm, assuring them that medical personnel were attending to the affected students.
According to him, environmental officials from both federal and state agencies had been mobilised to investigate the incident and take immediate action.
Speaking on the development, the General Manager of the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency, OGEPA, Hon. Kehinde Bello, disclosed that an air quality monitoring device installed at Ijebu-Ode Grammar School detected elevated methane gas concentrations in parts of the town.
Bello stated that peak readings of about 13,500 parts per million were recorded in surrounding areas.
He explained that the monitoring device was deployed as part of the state government’s environmental surveillance programme aimed at early detection of abnormal air quality conditions and prompt public health response.
According to him, although the methane concentration remains below the lower explosive limit, the level is environmentally significant and requires urgent technical investigation and precautionary measures.
Bello further disclosed that the Ogun State Government had activated a multi-agency environmental and public health assessment team comprising environmental regulators, emergency responders and technical air quality experts.
He urged residents to remain calm and continue their normal activities while avoiding open flames or ignition sources in areas where unusual gas odours are perceived.
The OGEPA boss also advised residents experiencing symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, nausea or respiratory discomfort to immediately report to nearby health facilities.
He assured residents that the Ogun State Government remained committed to protecting lives, public health and environmental safety, adding that further updates would be provided as investigations continue.
