More than 300 students and teachers have reportedly been hospitalised following four major incidents involving unusual gaseous emissions at schools in Ogun State between April and October 2026, raising fresh concerns about the safety of affected communities.
The incidents, reported mainly in Ijebu-Ode and neighbouring areas, have left students experiencing symptoms including breathing difficulties, vomiting, weakness and fainting. Several schools have had to suspend academic activities or close temporarily as emergency medical teams attended to affected pupils.
Although the Ogun State Government has linked previous incidents to underground gas emissions and geological activity, questions remain about the precise source of the gases, why the incidents keep recurring and what measures will prevent further exposure.
The first widely reported incident occurred in April, followed by fresh outbreaks in May, June and October. Here is a timeline of the major developments and the authorities’ responses.
April 1, 2026: First reported incident at OLAS
The first widely reported incident occurred on April 1 at Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School (OLAS), Epe Garage, Ijebu-Ode.
According to The PUNCH, at least 30 students and one teacher were hospitalised after an unidentified gaseous substance spread across the school premises shortly after the morning assembly.
Some students reportedly collapsed, vomited and experienced breathing difficulties, prompting an emergency response. The affected persons were taken to the General Hospital in Ijebu-Ode for treatment.
At the time, the Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, said the substance responsible had yet to be identified. Initial suggestions included the possibility of fumes originating from the school laboratory or another source within the surrounding community.
On April 2, the state government ordered the school’s closure and directed security agencies to investigate the incident.
Governor Dapo Abiodun also ordered the establishment of a situation room at the General Hospital in Ijebu-Ode to coordinate the response and provide free treatment for affected students and residents of nearby communities.
The government subsequently reported that the affected students were responding to treatment, with no deaths recorded.
May 15, 2026: Second incident affects more than 100 people
Barely six weeks later, another episode was reported in Ijebu-Ode, affecting students and teachers in several schools.
The PUNCH reported that more than 100 people were affected, with victims taken to the Ogun State Hospital in Ijebu-Ode and private medical facilities.
The affected schools included Anglican Girls Grammar School in Obalende and OLAS in Epe Garage.
Witnesses described students complaining of stomach pain, weakness and breathing difficulties. Some reportedly fainted and had to be assisted into vehicles for medical attention.
Following the incident, the state government said air-quality monitoring equipment had detected elevated methane concentrations in parts of Ijebu-Ode, with readings reaching approximately 13,500 parts per million in some locations.
Officials said the readings were below the lower explosive limit but still required further investigation because of their environmental and potential health implications.
The government also announced a multi-agency assessment involving environmental regulators, emergency responders and technical experts to investigate the source and extent of the emissions.
On May 17, Commissioner for Health Tomi Coker said all patients admitted to the state hospital following the incident had been discharged after receiving treatment.
Coker said the patients included adults and children. She also explained that methane could displace oxygen in the surrounding air at high concentrations, potentially contributing to symptoms such as fatigue, rapid heartbeat and breathing difficulties.
The government subsequently announced plans to strengthen emergency medical response in the area, including deploying ambulance crews and training teachers and interested parents as community first responders.
June 3, 2026: Third incident sends 69 students to hospital
Another episode was reported on June 3 at OLAS, where students again complained of symptoms after detecting an unusual odour.
The PUNCH reported that 69 students were hospitalised following the incident.
The Commissioner for Health later confirmed that all 69 students had been discharged after receiving medical attention. Most reportedly left the hospital on June 3, while seven who remained overnight were discharged the following day after their conditions improved.
The incident was described as the third reported occurrence within approximately two months, intensifying concern among parents, teachers and residents about the cause of the emissions.
The Commissioner for Environment, Oresanya, said government-installed gas analysers had detected methane in affected locations.
Schools mentioned in reports surrounding the earlier incidents included OLAS, Anglican Girls Grammar School, Titilayo Agbaje Comprehensive High School in Imosan, Ifesowapo Comprehensive High School in Imosan and St Anthony Grammar School in the Ijebu-Imushin area.
Following the repeated incidents, the government announced plans to temporarily relocate students from an affected school while investigations continued.
By June, officials had begun advancing a possible geological explanation, suggesting that underground gases could be escaping through fractures associated with geological and tectonic fault lines.
The government ruled out sabotage and pipeline leaks as explanations for the earlier occurrences. However, the proposed explanation did not resolve concerns about the repeated exposure of students and residents.
October 21, 2026: Fourth major episode spreads across three communities
The latest reported incident occurred on October 21, affecting parts of Ijebu-Ode, Ijebu-Igbo and Ago-Iwoye.
The PUNCH reported that more than 100 students across several secondary schools were hospitalised after exposure to an offensive gaseous substance.
The affected schools included Anglican Girls Grammar School in Ijebu-Ode, Ijebu-Igbo Girls Grammar School and Itamerin Comprehensive High School in Ago-Iwoye, among others.
Students reportedly experienced shortness of breath, stomach-related symptoms and drowsiness. Some fainted and were rushed to hospitals, while others reportedly required oxygen to stabilise their conditions.
The affected pupils were taken to the State Hospital in Ijebu-Ode, the General Hospital in Ijebu-Igbo and other healthcare facilities.
The odour also disrupted school activities in Ago-Iwoye, where some schools reportedly closed early and sent students home.
The incident appeared to extend beyond school premises. The chairman of Ijebu North Local Government Area reportedly detected the odour at the council secretariat, prompting additional concerns about its presence in surrounding communities.
Oresanya said the government was responding to the situation and linked the latest occurrence to the underground gas emissions previously reported in the Ijebu axis.
A team from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission also joined the assessment and investigation.
However, the precise cause of the October incident had not been conclusively established in the reports published that day.
Investigation remains a major concern
The four major episodes have left parents and residents seeking answers about the safety of schools and communities affected by the recurring emissions.
Although the Ogun State Government has attributed earlier incidents to natural geological activity and the escape of underground gases, the available information does not establish conclusively that every episode had the same source.
The methane readings reported in May are relevant to the investigation, but further technical assessment is needed to determine the composition of the gases involved in each incident, their source and the extent of exposure.
There are also questions about the effectiveness of measures introduced after the earlier outbreaks and whether schools in affected areas can safely resume normal activities without a clearer understanding of the risks.
TheCable reported on October 21 that an investigation launched in June had still not been concluded as of September, after the publication contacted the Commissioner for Environment.
The latest incident has therefore renewed calls for the government to provide clear findings from its investigation, explain the likely source of the emissions and outline preventive measures to protect students, teachers and nearby residents.
Until those questions are answered, the recurring incidents remain a serious public health concern for communities in Ijebu-Ode and neighbouring areas.
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