Over 100 Students Hospitalized After Toxic Gas Emissions in Ogun Schools

More than 100 students from several secondary schools in Ogun State were hospitalized on Wednesday after they were exposed to suspected toxic gas emissions. The affected students experienced breathing difficulties and fainting spells, leading to their emergency transport to local hospitals.

The schools most impacted include Ijebu-Igbo Girls Grammar School, Anglican Girls Grammar School in Ijebu-Ode, and Itamerin Comprehensive High School in Ago-Iwoye. A video shared on social media showed students fainting and being rushed to medical facilities as panic spread.

The incident began around 10 a.m., prompting some schools in Ago-Iwoye to close shortly after. A teacher from one of the affected schools reported that both students and staff struggled to breathe, and many had to be taken to the hospital. Parents also rushed to pick up their children amid safety concerns.

This is not the first time such incidents have occurred in the area. Since April, there have been multiple reports of gas emissions affecting schools, with hundreds of students hospitalized in previous incidents. Local residents and school authorities are calling for urgent action to identify the source of these emissions and protect students.

Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has stated that the government is working with various agencies to investigate the cause of these emissions. He mentioned that gas analyzers have been installed in schools to monitor the situation and that preliminary findings suggest geological factors may be involved.

The Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, confirmed that the government is closely monitoring the situation. Meanwhile, Kehinde Bello, a senior official, indicated that the emissions might be linked to natural geological occurrences rather than human activities.

As medical personnel continue to treat the affected students, the community remains concerned about safety and the need for a thorough investigation to prevent future incidents.