A fresh gas leak incident on Friday threw parts of Ijebu Ode into panic as more than 100 students and teachers from different schools were reportedly affected and rushed to hospitals for treatment.
The incident, which occurred less than two months after a similar case in the town, affected schools including Anglican Girls Grammar School, Obalende, and Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, Epe Garage, among others.
Victims were taken to the Ogun State Hospital and several private hospitals within the community after many reportedly developed breathing difficulties, weakness and stomach aches.
Videos circulating on social media showed students fleeing school premises while teachers and residents assisted unconscious victims into vehicles for emergency medical care.
An eyewitness who spoke anonymously described the latest incident as worse than the gas leak recorded in April.
“The whole hospital is crowded. Some parents had to move their children to private hospitals because of the number of victims. Many students are weak and complaining of stomach ache,” the source said.
The Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, confirmed the incident, stating that government agencies and emergency responders had been mobilised to the affected areas.
According to him, air quality monitoring devices installed in the area detected elevated methane gas concentrations around Ijebu Ode.
He explained that although the methane level remained below the explosive threshold, the situation required immediate environmental and public health investigation.
Oresanya added that a multi-agency assessment team comprising environmental experts, emergency responders and public health officials would investigate the source of the emissions and evaluate possible exposure risks.
Meanwhile, officials including the Chairman of Ijebu Ode Local Government, Dare Alebiosu, and the Managing Director of the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency, Kenny Bello, visited affected locations and hospitals to monitor the situation.
The state government advised residents to remain calm while avoiding open flames or ignition sources in areas where unusual gas odours were perceived.
Residents experiencing symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, nausea or respiratory discomfort were also advised to seek immediate medical attention.
The latest incident comes weeks after over 30 students and a teacher were hospitalised following a gas leak at Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School in April.
Punch
