A suspected gas leak on Wednesday threw Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, into chaos, leaving at least 30 students and a teacher hospitalised.
The incident occurred shortly after the school’s morning assembly, when an unidentified gaseous substance reportedly spread across the premises, causing widespread distress among students and staff.
Eyewitness accounts revealed that several students began to choke and collapse after inhaling the substance, prompting an immediate emergency response.
Ambulances were swiftly mobilised to evacuate the victims to the General Hospital in Ijebu Ode.
Initial speculations surrounding the incident varied, with some attributing it to a possible gas explosion nearby, while others pointed to a chemical release from the school’s laboratory during a practical session.
It was gathered that a piece of laboratory equipment may have accidentally fallen, releasing fumes that quickly circulated within the school environment.
However, the Vice Principal (Junior School), Mrs Adeola Borogun, refuted claims of any explosion, describing the situation as a “strange chemical odour” that led to symptoms such as vomiting and fainting among students.
Also weighing in, the Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, confirmed the incident as a gas leak but ruled out industrial pollution or any form of explosion.
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According to him, authorities are deploying a gas analyser to determine the exact nature and source of the substance.
“There are no industrial facilities in the area that could have caused this. We are conducting further analysis to establish the exact cause,” he stated, adding that all affected individuals were in stable condition.
The Chief Medical Director of the General Hospital, Ijebu Ode, Dr Banjo Adeoye, confirmed that 30 students and one teacher were treated at the facility, noting that most of them responded well to treatment, although the substance involved remains unidentified.
Similarly, the Chairman of Ijebu Ode Local Government, Dare Alebiosu, assured that no lives were lost and that the victims were recovering.
Authorities have since launched a full investigation to unravel the source of the leak, as concerns grow over safety standards within school environments.