30 students hospitalised after suspected gas leak at Ogun school

The Ogun State Government has ordered the immediate closure of Our Lady of Apostles (OLA) Secondary School in Ijebu-Ode following a suspected gas leak that left dozens of students and staff hospitalized.

The incident began on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, shortly after the morning assembly, and the situation has continued to develop through today, Friday, April 3.

Details of the Incident
The Affected: Initially, 30 students and two teachers were rushed to the State General Hospital in Ijebu-Ode after inhaling a "strange gaseous substance." By Thursday, the number of affected individuals rose to 48, as 18 additional students reported symptoms after returning home.

Symptoms: Witnesses and school officials, including Vice Principal Mrs. Adeola Borogun, reported that students began fainting and vomiting almost simultaneously after a pungent chemical odor saturated the air.

Government Action: Governor Dapo Abiodun ordered the indefinite closure of the school to allow for a full investigation. He also directed the opening of a Situation Room at the General Hospital to provide free medical treatment to affected students and residents of nearby areas.

Investigation Status
The state’s Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, has dismissed rumors of a gas explosion, clarifying that it was a chemical release or leak.

Potential Sources: While some initial reports suggested the leak might have originated from the school’s laboratory during a practical session, other investigators are looking into nearby human activities, specifically carbide cylinders used in the surrounding community.

Scientific Tracking: Officials from the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA) have deployed gas analyzers to the site to identify the exact composition and concentration of the gas.

Security Involvement: The police, DSS, and Amotekun corps are working alongside health authorities to determine if the release was accidental or linked to external environmental factors.

Current Condition of Victims
As of this afternoon, the Chief Medical Director of the General Hospital, Dr. Banjo Adeoye, confirmed that most of the victims are now in stable condition. Over 33 of the initially hospitalized students and the two teachers have already been treated and discharged.

Authorities have urged residents of the Makalewo, Ogbogbo, Molipa, and Oke-Aje market areas to remain calm, assuring them that there is no confirmed security threat related to the incident.