Schools in parts of Ogun State have been forced to close on Wednesday after more than 100 pupils were reportedly hospitalised following another exposure to an offensive gaseous substance, renewing concerns over recurring emissions in the Ijebu part of the state.
The affected pupils are from schools in ljebu Ode, Ago Iwoye and ljebu Igbo and were taken to the State Hospital in Ijebu-Ode, the General Hospital in Ijebu-Igbo and other health facilities after some reportedly experienced breathing difficulties and fainted.
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Among the schools worst affected were Ijebu-Igbo Girls Grammar School, Anglican Girls Grammar School in Ijebu-Ode and Itamerin Comprehensive High School in Ago-Iwoye.
The Ogun State Government, in a statement by the Special Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, said it has involved relevant authorities to intensify investigations into the incident, saying the situation is under control.
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“Findings from the affected students and information provided by the attending doctor revealed that the symptoms after inhaling this odour included shortness of breath, stomach disorders and drowsiness, among others,” the statement read.
Kehinde Bello, a senior special assistant to Mr Abiodun and general manager of the Ogun State Environmental Agency, also linked the latest occurrence to the underground gas emissions previously reported in the area.
Mr Bello said the government believed the phenomenon was associated with geological and tectonic fault lines rather than sabotage or a gas pipeline leak. He assured residents that the government would work towards a lasting solution and said affected pupils were expected to recover after receiving medical attention.
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According to the Punch report, a teacher at one of the affected schools, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly, said the incident began at about 10am on Wednesday, when pupils and staff started experiencing breathing difficulties.
“Some of the schools in Ago-Iwoye had to close for the day around 11am. when the situation was becoming horrible and unbearable,” the teacher said, adding that some parents also rushed to pick up their children amid uncertainty over the source of the emissions.
Ogun chemical leakage not first
The latest incident is the fourth reported occurrence of gaseous emissions affecting schools in the Ijebu area since April, despite previous investigations and assurances by the state government that it was working to establish the source.
In April, about 30 pupils and a teacher were hospitalised after a similar incident at Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School in Ijebu-Ode. In May, more than 100 pupils and teachers were reportedly affected in another occurrence, while a June incident led to 69 pupils being hospitalised.
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Following earlier incidents, the state government said preliminary monitoring had detected elevated methane levels in the affected area.
In May, the Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, said air-quality monitoring equipment had recorded peak readings of about 13,500 parts per million in surrounding locations.
The government subsequently announced plans for a multi-agency assessment to investigate the source of the emissions and assess possible exposure risks.
In June, the government also disclosed that investigators were examining possible links to an underground rock fracture and a gas pipeline located several kilometres from the affected schools. At the time, officials said the investigation was ongoing, and the pipeline was reportedly shut temporarily pending further inquiries.
The repeated incidents have heightened anxiety among parents, pupils and school staff, with a teacher calling on the government to establish the precise source of the emissions and prevent further exposure.
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