About one month after a chemical odour incident at Our Lady of Apostles Girls School in Ijebu-Ode, another suspected chemical emission has affected more than 90 students across several schools in the ancient town, triggering panic among residents, parents, and school authorities.

Dozens of affected students were reportedly rescued and taken by emergency responders to the State Hospital in Ijebu-Ode for medical attention.

A medical official at the hospital disclosed that many of the students complained of abdominal pain and other health-related symptoms.

Some of the affected schools include Our Lady of Apostles Girls School, Anglican Girls Grammar School, Ijebu-Ode Grammar School, Sambadola Private School and other schools around the Epe Garage and Obalende areas of Ijebu-Ode.

Eyewitnesses said the strange smell also spread to surrounding communities and streets within the area, causing anxiety among residents.

The Commissioner for Education, Professor Abayomi Arigbabu, later visited the hospital and appealed to parents to remain calm and allow medical personnel to attend to the affected students.

According to him, environmental officials from both federal and state agencies had been contacted for urgent intervention.

Speaking on the development, the General Manager of the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency, Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency, Kehinde Bello, said the air quality monitoring device installed at Ijebu-Ode Grammar School detected elevated methane concentrations within parts of the town.

He disclosed that the device recorded methane levels peaking at approximately 13,500 parts per million (ppm) in some surrounding locations.

He advised residents to remain calm, continue normal activities, but avoid open flames or ignition sources in areas where unusual gas odours are detected.

“Any symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, nausea or respiratory discomfort should be promptly reported to nearby health facilities,” he stated.