Gas Scare Sends Over 100 Students to Hospital in Ogun

(Students Rushed to Hospital. Photo by Vanguard News)
More than 100 secondary school students in Ijebu-Ode, Ago-Iwoye and Ijebu-Igbo in Ogun State have been taken to hospital after breathing in a gas.

Earlier incidents were linked to methane.

The worst hit schools are Ijebu-Igbo Girls Grammar School, Anglican Girls Grammar School in Ijebu-Ode, and Itamerin Comprehensive High School in Ago-Iwoye.

A teacher said the trouble started around 10am.

Students and staff struggled to breathe and some fainted before they were rushed to hospital.

Some schools in Ago-Iwoye had to close early because the air became unbearable.

This is the fourth such incident in the area.

The gas has reportedly been showing up since April.

About 40 students were affected then, more than 120 were hospitalised in May, and 69 more were taken in on June 1.

Governor Dapo Abiodun said the state is working with other agencies and geology experts from Olabisi Onabanjo University to find the cause.

Gas testers at the affected schools confirmed methane, and early findings point to possible geological fault lines underground.

The Environment Commissioner, Ola Oresanya, said the government is on top of the situation.

Medical staff are treating the students. Residents are still waiting for a permanent fix.