AT least 30 students of Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State, were hospitalised on Wednesday, April 1, after a suspected gas leak caused panic in the school.
Reports indicate that the incident occurred shortly after morning assembly when fumes believed to have emanated from gas explosion or school laboratory spread across the school premises.
The gas immediately left students and staff struggling to breathe, with some collapsing after inhaling the gas.
The state Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, confirmed the development, noting that about 30 students were affected and rushed to the General Hospital, Ijebu-Ode.
”Some students were affected, about 30, and they were rushed to the General Hospital in Ijebu Ode. Most of them are now in stable condition, and some have been discharged,” The Cable quoted the commissioner to have said.
Oresanya added that there was no evidence of a gas pipeline or industrial facility around the school, noting that investigators were still trying to determine the exact source of the fumes. He said preliminary findings suggested the possibility of human activity, including the use of gas cylinders in nearby areas.
He also explained that during inspection, officials discovered a bush close to the school, raising suspicions that the substance might have originated from there.
However, there has been confusion over the exact cause of the incident. Some accounts suggested a possible laboratory-related chemical spill within the school, while others pointed to a suspected gas cylinder leak in the surrounding environment.
Oresanya added that there were no industrial facilities in the area capable of causing such pollution.
“Some teachers also confirmed that the odour that filled the school premises smelled like carbide. So, it is possible that a carbide gas cylinder exploded somewhere,” he added.
He, however, assured residents that investigations were ongoing and promised to release further details once the source of the leak is confirmed.
Meanwhile, the Chief Medical Director of the General Hospital, Ijebu-Ode, Banjo Adeoye, confirmed that 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 for the incident had yet to be identified.
Mustapha Usman is an investigative journalist with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: musman@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M