The Ogun State Government has ordered the immediate closure of Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, Ijebu-Ode, following a suspected gas leak that left about 30 students and staff members hospitalised.
The incident, which occurred shortly after the school’s morning assembly on Wednesday, threw the school environment into panic as a strange gaseous substance reportedly spread across the premises, leaving many students and teachers struggling to breathe.
The development caused anxiety among parents, residents and traders in surrounding communities, with emergency response efforts quickly activated to contain the situation and attend to those affected.
In response, Governor Dapo Abiodun directed the immediate closure of the school and ordered a full-scale investigation into the cause of the incident.
The state government said security agencies had been mandated to work with environmental officials to determine the exact source and nature of the suspected gas leak, with the aim of preventing a recurrence.
As part of the emergency intervention, the governor also approved the immediate opening of a Situation Room at the General Hospital, Ijebu-Ode, where affected students, staff members and residents of nearby communities would receive free medical treatment.
Communities listed as potentially impacted include Makalewo, Ogbogbo, Molipa, Igbegba, Ikoto and Oke-Aje, as the state government moved to reassure the public that there was no confirmed security threat linked to the incident.
Despite the fear generated by the situation, officials urged residents not to panic, insisting that all relevant agencies had been mobilised to handle the matter and protect public safety.
Government officials also visited the affected school and the hospital where the victims were receiving treatment to assess the situation firsthand and monitor the condition of those involved.
Initial reports indicated that most of the affected students and teachers were in stable condition, although the incident disrupted academic activities and raised fresh concerns over environmental and chemical safety within school environments.
To support the investigation, officials of the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency deployed gas analysers and other monitoring equipment to the area in a bid to determine the exact source and chemical composition of the substance.
Authorities believe the findings from the environmental assessment will help establish whether the incident was caused by an external emission, a laboratory-related issue, or some other hazardous exposure.
In the immediate aftermath of the incident, different accounts emerged over what may have happened.
While some initial speculation suggested that the situation might have been caused by a gas-related incident in the surrounding area, other reports pointed to the possibility of a chemical odour emanating from the school laboratory during a practical session.
However, the school management moved to dismiss reports of any explosion within the premises.
A senior school official described the incident as the spread of a strange chemical smell rather than an explosion, a clarification that has narrowed public focus to possible chemical exposure rather than a blast.
The incident has since sparked wider concern among parents and education stakeholders, especially over the need for stricter safety protocols in schools, regular environmental inspections, and better emergency response systems in learning environments.
For many residents, the closure of the school is a necessary precaution pending the outcome of the investigation, even as families await clearer answers on what exactly caused the disturbance.
The state government is expected to release further updates after the findings of the ongoing investigation, while the affected school remains shut until authorities are satisfied that the environment is safe for students, teachers and workers to return.
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