•A hospitalised student
At least 30 students and one teacher have been reportedly hospitalised following a gas leakage at Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.
According to witnesses, the incident occurred shortly after the school assembly today, when a gaseous substance spread across the premises, leaving many students and staff struggling to breathe, reports Daily Trust.
Witnesses said the situation quickly turned chaotic as several students began collapsing due to the pollution.
More than 30 students, along with a teacher, were immediately rushed to Ijebu Ode General Hospital for treatment, a source revealed.
While some witnesses suspected the incident may have resulted from a near gas explosion, others suggested it could be linked to a chemical odour from the school laboratory.
The State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, confirmed the incident to Daily Trust, describing it as a gas leakage.
“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 analyzer there now to analyze the type of gas and the concentration zone. So, that will give us the exact cause,” Oresanya said.
The commissioner explained that the incident couldn’t have been as a result of an industrial pollution.
“There is no industrial gas around, so we know it’s not an industrial pollution,” he said.
He also dismissed speculation that there was an explosion in the school premises.
“No, there is no explosion anywhere. It’s a gas leakage from somewhere. No explosion,” he said.
He confirmed that 30 students were hospitalised.
“30 students, yes, were brought to the hospital, but they are in stable condition now.
“They are very okay now,” Oresanya said.
