All 69 students admitted to a hospital after a suspected gas leak at a school in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, on Wednesday, have been discharged, while investigations into the cause of the incident continue.
The state Commissioner for Health, Tomi Coker, said most of the affected students received treatment and were discharged on Wednesday, while the remaining seven students who stayed overnight at the hospital were discharged on Thursday after their conditions improved.
The commissioner gave the update on Thursday while addressing concerns over the third gas leak incident recorded within two months in parts of Ijebu-Ode and its environs, which disrupted academic activities and sparked anxiety among residents.
“All the affected students, about 69 of them, have been discharged after receiving appropriate medical care. The majority were discharged on Wednesday, while the seven who stayed overnight have also been discharged,” Coker said.
Speaking on efforts to determine the source of the recurring gas leak, Coker said the state government, through the Ministry of Environment, was collaborating with academics, geologists, and other environmental experts to investigate the cause of the emissions.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, urged residents not to panic, assuring them that the government was taking all necessary steps to address the situation.
He confirmed that all affected students had recovered and had been discharged from the hospital.
According to Oresanya, preliminary investigations have identified a gas pipeline located about five kilometres from the affected schools as a possible source of the leak.
“What we have discovered so far is that there is a gas pipeline about five kilometres from the affected schools. We suspect it may be connected to the incident, and we have decided to shut it down temporarily pending further investigations,” he said.
He added that experts had also identified an underground rock fracture, known in geology as a fault line, stretching across some of the affected schools.
“We have found an underground rock fracture, or fault line, which runs through St Anthony Grammar School, Ijebu-Imushin, Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, and Anglican Girls Grammar School in Ijebu-Ode. It is possible that gas escaping underground is finding its way to the surface through this fracture.
“Our teams are still on the ground investigating. We are working with the Federal Government, gas industry operators, and experts from the geoscience departments of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, and the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. The government is leaving nothing to chance,” he added.
The latest incident occurred on Wednesday at Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, Epe Garage, Ijebu-Ode, where students and staff reportedly perceived a strong offensive odour, leading to panic and health concerns.
This marks the third reported gas leak incident in the area within two months, raising concerns about the potential health implications for residents.
The first incident, recorded in April, affected about 40 students, while more than 120 students were reportedly hospitalised following another leak in May.
Schools affected during the previous incident included Our Lady of Apostles Grammar School, Anglican Girls Grammar School, Obalende; Titilayo Agbaje Comprehensive High School, Imosan; Ifesowapo Comprehensive High School, Imosan; St Peter’s Anglican Primary School, Imosan; Orphanage Primary School; and St Anthony Grammar School, Esure, Ijebu-Imushin.
Oresanya had earlier disclosed that gas analysers deployed by the state government detected methane gas in the affected areas.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said students and teachers experienced breathing difficulties and other symptoms after perceiving the strange odour during school hours.
“Some of the students and staff members were taken to the General Hospital, Ijebu-Ode, for treatment. Many complained of weakness, discomfort, and breathing difficulties, while some reportedly fainted.
“The government must get to the root of this problem. This is the third occurrence in two months, and people are worried about the long-term health implications,” the resident said.
Meanwhile, a civil rights activist and national coordinator of the Food and Farmers Rights Campaign, John Eko, urged Governor Dapo Abiodun to ensure a thorough investigation into the recurring incidents.
“It was shocking to hear that the mysterious gas leak occurred again. No one knows the extent of the health risks residents may have been exposed to through repeated inhalation of the gas.
“We appeal to the government to deploy every available resource to find a permanent solution to this unfortunate situation,” Eko said.