More than 100 pupils across several secondary institutions in the Ijebu-Ode, Ago-Iwoye and Ijebu-Igbo districts were admitted to local medical centres on Wednesday, according to Punch. The exposure began around 10:00 am, causing staff and students to struggle for breath and lose consciousness. By 11:00 am, several campuses in Ago-Iwoye suspended classes. The Ijebu-Igbo Girls Grammar School and Anglican Girls Grammar School suffered the most severe impacts. Patients were treated at the State Hospital in Ijebu-Ode and the General Hospital in Ijebu-Igbo, presenting with symptoms such as drowsiness, stomach issues and laboured breathing.
The Ogun State Government declared the crisis manageable, a position outlined in a Wednesday statement by Special Adviser Kayode Akinmade. An assessment crew visited the hospitals and inspected the school grounds, noting that nearby residents also detected the smell. The Ijebu North Local Government Area chairman confirmed the odour reached the council office. Representatives from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission joined the on-site review to help trace the origin of the emissions.
This event marks the fourth such episode in the region since April 2026. Earlier outbreaks affected roughly 40 pupils in April, more than 120 in May, and 69 on June 1. Governor Dapo Abiodun explained in June that the state is collaborating with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and the geology department at Olabisi Onabanjo University to identify the source. Initial data points to geological factors, specifically fault lines, as the likely cause of the methane release.
Kehinde Bello, a senior aide to the governor and head of the Ogun State Environmental Agency, stated that the issue stems from natural tectonic activity rather than a broken pipeline. He recommended that residents use damp cloths to filter the air instead of standard masks. Environment Commissioner Ola Oresanya also confirmed that authorities are closely monitoring the area. Most pupils were released after treatment, though a small number remained under watch.