A fresh gas emission sent students from several secondary schools in Ogun State to hospitals on Wednesday, the fourth such incident in the state since April, and forced some schools to close for the day.
Early reports differed on how many students were affected. Some said more than 100 were hospitalized across Ijebu-Ode, Ijebu-Igbo and Ago-Iwoye, while others put the figure at more than 30.
The worst-hit schools reportedly included Ijebu-Igbo Girls Grammar School, Anglican Girls Grammar School in Ijebu-Ode and Itamerin Comprehensive High School in Ago-Iwoye. A teacher who asked not to be named said students and staff struggled to breathe and some fainted. Schools in Ago-Iwoye closed around 11 a.m. and sent students home.
Ogun Commissioner for the Environment Ola Oresanya said the situation was under control and that investigations had begun into the source and extent of the emissions. He linked the latest incident to underground gas emissions reported in the Ijebu area since April.
Kehinde Bello, general manager of the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency, visited the affected areas in Ijebu-Ode and Ijebu-Igbo. He said the government was monitoring the situation and exploring a lasting solution to the recurring Ogun gas leak.
Officials have ruled out sabotage and a gas pipeline leak, saying investigations point to a natural occurrence tied to geological and tectonic fault lines. At the same time, the state government said it is still working to determine whether the emissions come from natural geological activity or mining operations.
The gas was first reported in April, when students at Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School in Ijebu-Ode were taken to hospital with breathing difficulties. More than 120 students were reportedly hospitalized after another exposure in May, and at least 69 were hospitalized in June, an incident the government later identified as methane. Schools previously affected include Anglican Girls Grammar School in Ijebu-Ode and St. Anthony Grammar School in Ijebu Imusin.
Gov. Dapo Abiodun has said gas analyzers were installed in affected schools after the first occurrence and confirmed that the gas was methane. He noted that the pollution occurred at about the same time in about three schools on two separate occasions.
A teacher at one of the affected schools said the government was taking too long to find the root of what the teacher called a mysterious and potentially deadly leak. Residents of the Ijebu area have now faced the recurring emissions for about six months.
Methane is flammable, and in high concentrations it can displace oxygen in enclosed spaces and cause dizziness and breathing difficulty.
Reports did not mention any deaths, and officials had not said how many students remained in hospital late Wednesday.
