IJEBU ODE – Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has ordered the immediate closure of Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, Ijebu Ode, following a mysterious gas leak that sent no fewer than 30 students and at least one teacher to the hospital on Wednesday.
The incident, which occurred shortly after the morning assembly, sparked chaos as students and staff reportedly began gasping for air, with several pupils fainting or vomiting on the school premises.
The Incident
Eyewitnesses described a “strange chemical smell” that enveloped the school grounds, leading to immediate respiratory distress among those present. Vice Principal (Junior School), Mrs. Adeola Borogun, clarified that while initial rumors suggested an explosion, the reality was a silent, pungent emission that forced the school to call for emergency medical evacuations.
The victims were rushed to the Ijebu Ode General Hospital, where a Situation Room has since been established on the Governor’s orders to monitor the recovery of the affected individuals.
Government Response & Safety Measures
In a statement released Thursday by the Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, the Governor directed security agencies and the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA) to “unravel the cause of the incident” to prevent future occurrences.
Key government interventions include:
- School Closure: Both the primary and secondary arms of the school are shut until further notice.
- Situation Room: A dedicated medical post at General Hospital, Ijebu Ode, providing free treatment for students and residents.
- Environmental Monitoring: OGEPA has deployed advanced gas analyzers to the site to identify the substance and its concentration levels.
Search for the Source
While the exact origin of the leak remains unconfirmed, preliminary thoughts from the Ministry of Environment suggest the possibility of nearby human activity, such as the use of carbide or a leak from a gas cylinder in a neighboring community.
”There is no industrial gas around, so we know it’s not industrial pollution,” Commissioner Oresanya stated. “Some say it was from the school laboratory, but others say it must have been from the community. We are tracking the source now.”
Community Impact
Residents in surrounding areas—including Makalewo, Ogbogbo, Molipa, Igbegba, Ikoto, and Oke-Aje market—have been urged to remain calm. The state government maintains that there is no confirmed security threat linked to the incident.
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As of Thursday morning, hospital authorities confirmed that most of the students are in stable condition and responding well to treatment. The results of the environmental probe are expected to be made public in the coming days.
