Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State — More than 100 students and teachers have been hospitalised following a suspected chemical odour incident that disrupted academic activities in parts of Ijebu-Ode on Friday, May 15.
The incident reportedly affected several schools, including Anglican Girls Grammar School, Obalende, and Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, located around the Epe Garage axis of the town.
Eyewitness accounts and early reports indicate that a strange and irritating odour spread through school environments, after which students and staff began experiencing sudden health symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, vomiting, breathing difficulties, abdominal pain, and fainting. The situation quickly escalated, forcing emergency evacuations as panic spread among students, teachers, and parents.
Medical personnel and emergency responders were swiftly deployed to the affected schools, evacuating victims to nearby health facilities, including the State Hospital in Ijebu-Ode, where they are currently receiving treatment. Health officials confirmed that most of the affected individuals have been stabilised, and no fatalities have been recorded.
Authorities in Ogun State have since launched investigations into the source of the suspected chemical exposure. Preliminary assessments by environmental agencies reportedly suggest possible air contamination, though officials have not confirmed whether it resulted from industrial leakage, gas emissions, or another environmental trigger.
