Panic spread across Ijebu-Ode on Thursday after a suspected chemical odour affected more than 90 students in several schools across the town, barely one month after a similar incident was reported at Our Lady of Apostles Girls School.
Gatekeepers News reports that the strange odour reportedly swept through parts of the ancient town, forcing many parents and guardians to rush to schools to evacuate their children amid fears over their safety.
Emergency responders rescued dozens of affected students and transported them to the State Hospital in Ijebu-Ode for treatment.
A medical official at the hospital said many of the students complained of abdominal pain and other related health symptoms.
Schools reportedly affected by the incident include Our Lady of Apostles Girls School, Anglican Girls Grammar School, Ijebu-Ode Grammar School, Sambadola Private School, and other schools around the Epe Garage and Obalende areas.
The latest development comes weeks after another chemical odour outbreak in the town reportedly caused health complications among students.
Residents said the unusual smell also spread to nearby communities and streets, heightening anxiety across the area.
As of the time this report was filed, government officials had yet to arrive at the State Hospital where many of the affected students were receiving medical attention.
However, the Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Professor Abayomi Arigbabu, later visited the hospital and appealed to parents to remain calm while medical personnel attended to the students.
He added that environmental officials from both federal and state agencies had been contacted for urgent intervention.
Speaking on the incident, the General Manager of the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency, Kehinde Bello, disclosed that an air quality monitoring device installed at Ijebu-Ode Grammar School detected elevated methane concentrations in parts of the town.
According to Bello, the device recorded methane levels peaking at about 13,500 parts per million (ppm) in some surrounding areas.
He explained that the monitoring equipment was deployed under the state government’s environmental surveillance programme aimed at detecting abnormal air quality conditions and supporting early public health response.
Bello noted that although the methane concentration remained below the lower explosive limit, the readings were environmentally significant and required urgent technical investigation and precautionary measures.
He said the Ogun State Government had activated a multi-agency environmental and public health assessment team comprising environmental regulators, emergency response agencies and air quality experts.
Bello advised residents to remain calm and continue their normal activities but warned against open flames or ignition sources in areas where unusual gas odours are noticed.
“Any symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, nausea or respiratory discomfort should be promptly reported to nearby health facilities,” he stated.
He assured residents that the Ogun State Government remained committed to protecting public health and environmental safety, adding that further updates would be provided as investigations continue.
