The Ogun State Government ordered the immediate closure of selected primary and secondary schools across Ijebu-Ode, Ago-Iwoye, and Ijebu-Igbo on Thursday, October 22, 2026, following the emergency hospitalisation of more than 100 students and staff.
The drastic safety measure comes after pupils were exposed to a heavy, offensive gaseous substance during morning activities on Wednesday, October 21.
​The emergency unfolded on Wednesday, October 21, when pupils and teachers began experiencing sudden respiratory distress, severe dizziness, coughing fits, and fainting spells.
​By 11:00 AM, panic escalated across several institutions as the pungent odor intensified, forcing school authorities to dismiss classes and call for immediate evacuation. Panicked parents rushed to premises to rescue their children amid growing confusion.
​Worst-affected institutions identified in the region include; Anglican Girls Grammar School, Ijebu-Ode, Ijebu-Igbo Girls Grammar School, Ijebu-Igbo, Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, Ijebu-Ode and selected public primary and secondary schools in Ago-Iwoye.
​Victims were hurriedly evacuated via emergency services and school buses to medical facilities across the state, including the State Hospital, Ijebu-Ode, and the General Hospital, Ijebu-Igbo. Medical personnel confirmed that over 100 affected individuals received oxygen therapy, fluids, and emergency stabilisation treatment.
​Speaking during an emergency assessment visit to affected sites in Ijebu-Ode and Ijebu-Igbo, Kehinde Bello, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor and General Manager of the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA), linked the latest outbreak to recurring underground gas leaks previously recorded in the region.
​”The state government has ordered the immediate shutdown of schools in the impacted zones to forestall further exposure and safeguard our children while multi-agency technical teams isolate the cause,” Bello stated. “Preliminary checks point to subterranean gas movements, but comprehensive environmental testing is currently underway.”
​Confirming the joint operational response, the Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, reassured the public that state health and environmental monitoring agencies, alongside security forces, are coordinating efforts to contain the hazard.
​Wednesday’s toxic exposure marks the fourth major incident involving mysterious chemical odours in the Ijebu axis since April 2026. Previous occurrences in April and May forced similar temporary closures and hospitalised dozens of students, prompting residents and educators to demand a permanent resolution to the persistent environmental danger.
