By Ado Oyeyemi
Residents of Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, were thrown into fresh anxiety on Wednesday after another suspected gas leak at Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, Epe Garage, affected dozens of students and staff members, many of whom were rushed to hospital for treatment.
The incident, which reportedly occurred during school hours, left several victims struggling with breathing difficulties, weakness and other health complications believed to be linked to exposure to the gas.
The affected students and workers were taken to the General Hospital, Ijebu-Ode, where they received medical attention.
The latest occurrence is the third reported gas emission incident in the area within the last two months, heightening fears among residents over the safety and health implications of the recurring phenomenon.
Earlier incidents recorded in April and May reportedly resulted in the hospitalisation of about 40 and 100 students respectively, prompting concerns from parents and community leaders.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said panic erupted within the school after students and teachers perceived a strong and unusual odour on the premises.
According to the resident, the offensive smell quickly caused discomfort among those exposed, with several victims complaining of breathing challenges, body weakness and, in some cases, loss of consciousness.
“The incident happened during school activities. Students and staff suddenly noticed a strong smell that caused panic and discomfort.
Several people were affected and taken to the hospital for treatment.
“Some were still receiving medical attention as of Wednesday. This is now the third occurrence in just two months, and people are becoming increasingly worried about what prolonged exposure could mean for their health,” the source said.
Confirming the development, the Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, disclosed that government monitoring equipment had successfully traced the source of the gas emission.
He explained that preliminary findings indicated that the leakage was originating from an area located behind the school.
“Yes, we are aware of the incident. Our monitoring devices have detected the source of the gas emission, and it is coming from behind Our Lady of Apostles School in Ijebu-Ode,” the commissioner said.
Oresanya added that the state government had commenced necessary interventions to contain the situation and prevent future occurrences.
Meanwhile, the National Coordinator of the Food and Farmers Rights Campaign, John Eko, has urged Governor Dapo Abiodun to take decisive steps towards finding a lasting solution to the recurring gas leak.
Describing the repeated incidents as disturbing, Eko warned that the long-term impact of continuous exposure to the emissions remained unknown and could pose serious health risks to residents.
“It is alarming that residents are experiencing this problem again for the third time in two months. No one can accurately determine the health consequences of prolonged exposure to the gas.
“We appeal to the government to deploy all available resources to identify the root cause and implement a permanent solution. Protecting the lives and wellbeing of residents must remain a priority,” he said.
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The state government had earlier revealed that methane gas was the likely source of the emissions after investigations carried out through monitoring devices installed in the affected area.
