By Staff Reporter
A fresh wave of panic swept through Ijebu Ode on Thursday after more than 90 students from several secondary schools reportedly fell ill following exposure to a strange chemical odour that spread across parts of the town, prompting the Ogun State Government to activate an emergency environmental and public health response.
The disturbing incident, which comes barely one month after a similar occurrence in the area, affected students in schools including Our Lady of Apostles Girls School, Anglican Girls Grammar School, Ijebu-Ode Grammar School, and Sambadola Private School, among others.
Witnesses said many of the affected students suddenly developed symptoms such as abdominal pain, dizziness, nausea, headaches, and respiratory discomfort during school hours, triggering panic among teachers, parents, and residents. Several students were rushed to nearby hospitals and health centres for urgent medical attention.
The Ogun State Government swiftly deployed emergency response teams to the affected locations as concerns mounted over the recurring nature of the incident.
Leading government officials, including the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, visited some of the affected students receiving treatment and assured residents that authorities were taking the situation seriously.
Arigbabu urged parents and members of the public not to panic, noting that medical personnel and environmental experts were already conducting investigations to determine the exact cause and source of the odour.
Speaking on the development, the General Manager of the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA), Hon. Kehinde Bello, revealed that the state’s Air Quality Monitoring Device stationed at Ijebu Ode Grammar School detected elevated concentrations of methane gas in parts of the affected area.
According to him, the monitoring equipment recorded methane readings peaking at approximately 13,500 parts per million (ppm) in surrounding locations.
Bello explained that although the concentration remained below the Lower Explosive Limit (LEL), the level was still environmentally significant and required urgent technical investigation and precautionary measures.
He stated that the air quality monitoring system forms part of the Ogun State Government’s environmental surveillance initiative designed for the early detection of air pollution abnormalities and rapid emergency intervention.
“The government has activated a multi-agency emergency response involving environmental regulators, emergency management agencies, public health professionals, and technical air quality experts to determine the source of the odour and prevent further exposure,” Bello said.
As part of immediate safety measures, residents were advised to avoid the use of open flames, generators, or other ignition sources in areas where unusual gas smells are perceived.
Authorities also urged residents experiencing symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, breathing difficulties, or persistent headaches to seek immediate medical attention at nearby healthcare facilities.
The recurring incidents have heightened anxiety among residents and parents, many of whom are demanding urgent and transparent investigations into possible industrial, environmental, or underground gas-related causes.
Some parents who gathered around affected schools expressed fears over the safety of their children and called on the government to intensify environmental monitoring and establish preventive safeguards to avoid future occurrences.
Meanwhile, the Ogun State Government reiterated its commitment to protecting public health and environmental safety, assuring residents that verified updates would be communicated as investigations continue.
The latest development has again drawn attention to growing environmental safety concerns in urban communities and the need for stricter monitoring of air quality and industrial activities across the state.
