About 30 students and a teacher of Our Lady of Apostle Secondary School, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, were hospitalised on Wednesday, following exposure to a suspected chemical odour on the school premises.
It was gathered that the incident, which occurred shortly after the morning assembly, caused panic as several students reportedly began vomiting and fainting.
Speaking with journalists, the Vice Principal of the school, Adeola Borogun, said the situation was not caused by a gas explosion but by a strange odour perceived in the environment.
She said the development prompted the school authorities to immediately seek medical assistance.
“Several students began vomiting and fainting, forcing the school management to call for ambulances from the State General Hospital, Ijebu Ode,” she said.
Contacted, the state Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, confirmed the incident, dismissing speculation that it was an explosion on the school premises.
He noted that investigation was ongoing to find out the actual cause of the incident.
Mr Oresanya stated, “No, there is no explosion anywhere. It’s a gas leakage from somewhere. 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.”
He added that the 30 students brought to the hospital are now in stable condition.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Ijebu Ode Local Government, Dare Alebiosu, who visited the hospital, described the situation as calm and under control.
He assured parents and residents that a full investigation would be carried out to uncover the cause of the incident.
(NAN)
