The Ogun State Government has ordered the immediate closure of Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School in Ijebu-Ode following a suspected gas leak that left more than 30 students and staff hospitalised.
The incident reportedly occurred shortly after the school’s morning assembly on Wednesday, when a strange gaseous substance spread across the premises, triggering panic and breathing difficulties among those present.
Confirming the development in a statement on Thursday, the Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, said Governor Dapo Abiodun had directed security agencies to investigate the cause of the incident.
“The governor has mandated relevant security agencies to determine the source of the suspected gas leak. The findings will guide measures to prevent a recurrence,” Oresanya said.
He added that the government had taken precautionary steps, including shutting down the school and setting up an emergency response system to manage the situation.
“Governor Abiodun has also approved the immediate establishment of a Situation Room at the General Hospital, Ijebu-Ode, where affected students and residents will receive free medical care,” he stated.
Residents of surrounding communities such as Makalewo, Ogbogbo, Molipa, Igbegba, Ikoto and Oke-Aje were urged to remain calm, as authorities noted that there was no confirmed security threat linked to the incident.
Oresanya further disclosed that officials from the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency had been deployed with gas analysers to identify the nature and source of the substance.
“We have mobilised our technical team to carry out environmental assessments. The priority is to establish exactly what happened and ensure the safety of residents,” he said.
While some initial reports suggested a possible gas explosion in the area, school authorities dismissed the claim, describing the incident as a chemical odour detected within the school environment.
The Vice Principal (Junior School), Adeola Borogun, said, “There was no explosion. What we experienced was a strange smell that spread across the school, and it affected both students and staff.”
Meanwhile, government officials have visited both the school and the hospital where the affected persons are receiving treatment. Authorities say most of the victims are responding well and are in stable condition.
The state government assured the public that further updates would be provided as investigations continue.
