Over 100 Ogun Students Hospitalised After Inhaling Toxic Gas

More than 100 students from secondary schools in Ijebu Ode, Ago Iwoye, and Ijebu Igbo were rushed to hospitals on Wednesday after inhaling a toxic gaseous substance identified as methane.

The affected schools include Ijebu Igbo Girls Grammar School, Anglican Girls Grammar School in Ijebu Ode, and Itamerin Comprehensive High School in Ago Iwoye. Videos circulating online showed students fainting and being carried to hospitals as panic spread across the communities.

According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred around 10 a.m. when students and staff began experiencing breathing difficulties. 

Several schools in Ago Iwoye closed early as the situation worsened, while anxious parents arrived to take their children home.This marks the fourth occurrence of methane emissions in Ijebu land since April 2026. 

Previous incidents in April, May, and June had hospitalised dozens of students, prompting investigations by the state government. 

Governor Dapo Abiodun had earlier disclosed that gas analysers installed in affected schools confirmed methane as the source, with preliminary findings suggesting geological fault lines as the cause.

On Wednesday, Ogun State officials reaffirmed that the emissions were linked to underground geological activity rather than sabotage or pipeline leaks. Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, assured residents that the government was “on top of the situation,” while Kehinde Bello, General Manager of the Ogun State Environmental Agency, urged calm and advised exposed residents to cover their noses and mouths with wet handkerchiefs.

Medical personnel at State Hospital, Ijebu Ode, and General Hospital, Ijebu Igbo, attended to the affected students, who are expected to recover after treatment. 

The recurring incidents, however, have raised renewed concerns about the safety of schools and the need for urgent long-term solutions.