Abiodun orders closure of Ogun school after gas leak affects 48 students

Dapo Abiodun, governor of Ogun, has ordered the closure of Our Lady Apostle Secondary School in Ijebu-Ode, after 18 more students were reported affected by a recent gas leak at the school.

On Wednesday, 30 students at the school were hospitalised when the gas leak, suspected to have emanated from nearby carbide cylinders, spread across the premises, sparking panic in the community.

Confirming the incident to TheCable, Ola Oresanya, the state commissioner for environment, said the affected students were immediately rushed to the General Hospital in Ijebu-Ode for medical attention.

Oresanya added that most of the students were later stabilised, with some discharged, while efforts are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident.

In a statement shared via X on Thursday, the commissioner said Abiodun ordered the closure of the school while investigations into the cause of the gas leak continue.

He added that 18 more students later felt the impact of the gas leak after returning home on Wednesday.

Oresanya said he visited the school along with government officials to assess the situation and investigate the source of the chemical fumes.

“I confirmed that 30 students and two teachers were rushed to the General Hospital Ijebu Ode at 10:45am, which was within an hour of inhaling the gas,” he said.

“Eighteen other students reported for treatment later when they felt the impact of the inhaled poisonous gas while at home.”

He added that safety officers deployed a gas analyser to track the source of the leak, while medical teams treated and discharged over 33 affected students and the two teachers within hours.

The commissioner said investigations are ongoing in collaboration with security agencies, including the police, the Department of State Services (DSS), Amotekun corps, and local health authorities, to determine the source of the chemical release.

He noted that the state government has opened a situation room at the General Hospital in Ijebu-Ode to provide free treatment for affected students and residents within the impacted area.

Oresanya added that the governor directed the immediate closure of the school as a precautionary measure while investigations continue.