By Uthman Salami
The Ogun State Government has ordered the closure of Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School in Ijebu-Ode and launched an investigation after a suspected gas leak hospitalised about 30 students.
The incident occurred shortly after the school assembly on Wednesday, sparking panic as a gaseous substance reportedly spread across the premises. PUNCH Metro gathered that more than 30 people, including students and staff, struggled to breathe.
In a statement on Thursday, the Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, said Governor Dapo Abiodun had directed security agencies to investigate the cause, adding that the findings would help prevent a recurrence. The governor also ordered the immediate closure of the school.
“Governor Abiodun has directed the immediate opening of a Situation Room at the General Hospital, Ijebu-Ode, which will provide free treatment to students and residents of affected areas, including Makalewo, Ogbogbo, Molipa, Igbegba, Ikoto and Oke-Aje Market,” the statement added.
Residents were advised not to panic, as there was no confirmed security threat linked to the incident.
Oresanya said officials of the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency had deployed gas analysers to identify the source and nature of the substance. He, alongside other government officials, visited the school and hospital, adding that most of the affected students and staff were in stable condition.
PUNCH Metro gathered that some sources initially speculated a nearby gas explosion, while others suggested a chemical odour from a school laboratory during a practical session. The school’s Vice Principal (Junior School), Adeola Borogun, dismissed reports of an explosion, describing it instead as a strange chemical smell within the premises.
