The Ogun State Government has ordered the closure of some schools following a fresh outbreak of unusual gas emissions that reportedly left more than 100 students needing medical attention.
The incident occurred on Wednesday across parts of Ijebu-Ode, Ijebu-Igbo and Ago-Iwoye, triggering panic among students, teachers and parents as several pupils reportedly fainted and experienced breathing difficulties.
Some of the affected students were taken to the State Hospital in Ijebu-Ode, the General Hospital in Ijebu-Igbo and other healthcare facilities for treatment.
Schools reportedly worst affected included Ijebu-Igbo Girls Grammar School, Anglican Girls Grammar School in Ijebu-Ode and Itamerin Comprehensive High School in Ago-Iwoye.
According to reports, the situation became severe in some schools around 10 am, forcing authorities to suspend academic activities and send students home. Worried parents also rushed to affected schools and hospitals to check on their children.
The development has renewed concerns over the recurring gas emissions in the Ijebu axis, where similar incidents have been reported since April 2026.
Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, said the government was responding to the latest incident and working to establish the source of the emissions.
The state government had previously identified methane as one of the gases detected during investigations into earlier occurrences. Preliminary findings linked the phenomenon to possible geological and tectonic fault lines, although investigations into the latest incident are ongoing.
Kehinde Bello, General Manager of the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency, said the latest occurrence was connected to underground gas emissions previously reported in the affected areas. He assured residents that the government was working towards a lasting solution.
Medical assessments indicated that affected students experienced symptoms including shortness of breath, stomach discomfort and drowsiness. Some reportedly required oxygen to stabilise their conditions, while others received less intensive treatment.
Officials said most of the students treated at one of the hospitals had been discharged by the time the assessment team concluded its visit, although a few remained under observation.
The recurring incidents have raised questions about the safety of students and residents in the affected communities, with calls for authorities to complete their investigations and prevent further exposure.
