At least 30 students and a teacher were rushed to the hospital on Wednesday after a suspected gas-related incident at Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.
The scare reportedly began shortly after the morning assembly when an unusual smell spread across the school compound, causing panic as students and staff struggled to breathe.
Witnesses said the situation escalated quickly, with several students coughing uncontrollably, collapsing, and some losing consciousness.
“They suddenly started coughing and struggling to breathe. Some fainted on the spot,” a source revealed.
Emergency responders evacuated the affected students along with a teacher to the General Hospital in Ijebu-Ode, where they received urgent treatment.
Although the exact source of the incident has not been confirmed, differing accounts have emerged. Some believe it was caused by a gas leak within the premises, while others suspect it originated from a chemical reaction during a laboratory session for the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination.
It was also gathered that a piece of laboratory equipment may have accidentally fallen during the practical, possibly releasing fumes that spread across the school.
Reacting to the situation, the Vice Principal (Junior School), Mrs Adeola Borogun, ruled out any explosion, explaining that the disturbance was caused by a strange chemical smell that prompted immediate action.
“It was not an explosion. We perceived a strange smell within the premises, and some students began vomiting and fainting. We promptly contacted the General Hospital for ambulances,” she said.
