No fewer than 30 pupils and one teacher have been hospitalised following a gas leak at Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School in Ogun State.
The incident occurred shortly after morning assembly on Wednesday, triggering panic as a gaseous substance spread across the premises.
Sources said several students collapsed after inhaling the substance, prompting an emergency response.
The affected pupils and the teacher were rushed to the General Hospital Ijebu Ode for treatment.
Initial accounts suggested the incident might have been linked to a nearby gas explosion, while others pointed to a chemical odour from the school laboratory during a practical session.
It was gathered that a piece of equipment may have fallen during the exercise, releasing a substance into the environment.
However, the Vice Principal (Junior School), Mrs Adeola Borogun, dismissed reports of an explosion, describing the incident as a strange chemical smell within the school.
She said the incident caused vomiting and fainting among pupils, forcing the school to call for emergency services.
The Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, also ruled out an explosion or industrial pollution.
He said: “Some say it was from the school laboratory, but some say it must have been from somewhere around the community.
“We are bringing a gas analyser there now to analyse the type of gas and the concentration zone. So, that will give us the exact cause.”
Oresanya added: “There is no industrial gas around, so we know it’s not industrial pollution.
“No, there is no explosion anywhere.
“It’s a gas leakage from somewhere.
“No explosion, 30 students were brought to the hospital, but they are in stable condition now.
“They are very okay now.”
Confirming the development, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Banjo Adeoye, said 30 students and one teacher were treated.
He added that most of the affected persons were in stable condition, although the exact substance responsible had yet to be identified.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Ijebu Ode Local Government, Dare Alebiosu, said no life was lost and that all affected students were responding to treatment.
Authorities said investigations are ongoing to determine the source of the gas leak.
