Panic in Ogun school as students faint, vomit after exposure to ‘strange odour’

By Abiodun Lawal

There was panic at Our Lady of Apostle Secondary School, Ijebu Ode, Ogun state on Wednesday as many students reportedly began vomiting and fainting following exposure to a suspected chemical odour within the school premises

About 30 students and a teacher were hospitalised as a result of the incident which allegedly occurred shortly after the morning assembly at the school.

Speaking with newsmen, the Vice Principal of the school, Mrs Adeola Borogun, said the school called for ambulances to take the affected students to hospital.

But she the situation was not caused by a gas explosion as being speculated, 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.

When contacted, the State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, confirmed the incident, dismissing speculation that it was an explosion in the school premises.

He noted that investigation was ongoing to find out the actual cause of the incident.

“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,” Oresanya said.

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)