No fewer than 30 students and one teacher have been hospitalised following a gas leak at Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.
The incident, which occurred shortly after the school assembly on Wednesday, reportedly caused panic as a gaseous substance spread across the premises, leaving students and staff struggling to breathe.
Sources said several students collapsed after inhaling the substance, prompting an emergency response.
The affected students and the teacher were immediately rushed to the General Hospital, Ijebu Ode, for treatment.
While some sources initially speculated that the incident might have been caused by a nearby gas explosion, others linked it to a chemical odour from the school laboratory during a practical session.
It was gathered that a piece of equipment may have fallen during the exercise, releasing a substance that spread across the school.
However, the Vice Principal (Junior School), Mrs Adeola Borogun, speaking to newsmen on Wednesday, dismissed reports of an explosion, describing the incident as a strange chemical smell within the premises.
She said the situation led to vomiting and fainting among students, forcing the school to call for ambulances.
The Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, also described the situation as a gas leak but ruled out the possibility of an explosion or industrial pollution.
“Some say it was from the school laboratory, but some say it must have been from somewhere around the community.
“We are bringing a gas analyser there now to analyse the type of gas and the concentration zone. So, that will give us the exact cause,” Oresanya said.
Oresanya added that there were no industrial facilities in the area capable of causing such pollution.
“There is no industrial gas around, so we know it’s not industrial pollution.
“No, there is no explosion anywhere. It’s a gas leakage from somewhere. No explosion,30 students were brought to the hospital, but they are in stable condition now. They are very okay now,” Oresanya said.
Confirming the development, the Chief Medical Director of the General Hospital, Ijebu Ode, Dr Banjo Adeoye, said 30 students and one teacher were brought to the facility.
He added that most of the affected persons were in stable condition, although the exact substance responsible had yet to be identified.
Also confirming the incident, the Chairman of Ijebu Ode Local Government, Dare Alebiosu, said no life was lost and that all affected students were responding to treatment.
(Punch)
