Residents of Ijebu-Ode are anxiously awaiting answers as the Ogun State Government says investigations into recurring gas emissions affecting schools and communities have reached an advanced stage, with early findings pointing to possible geological activity beneath the town.
The Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Ola Oresanya, disclosed this during a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, revealing that experts have traced the likely source of the emissions to subsurface geological movements along a suspected fault line running through parts of the town.
Over 200 Students, Teachers Hospitalised
The mysterious gas emissions have disrupted lives and raised concerns among parents and residents after more than 200 students and teachers were hospitalised in three separate incidents since April 2026.
The first case occurred at Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School (OLAS), where a chemical odour sent about 30 students to hospital. A second incident on May 15 recorded methane levels of 13,500 parts per million and spread to Anglican Girls Grammar School.
In the latest episode in June, 69 students suffering from dizziness, nausea and fainting were rushed to the Ijebu-Ode General Hospital and nearby clinics. Health authorities confirmed that all affected persons have since been treated and discharged.
The recurring incidents prompted calls for a detailed forensic investigation, leading authorities to examine not only industrial infrastructure but also deep underground geological formations beneath the affected areas.
“We Have Zeroed In on the Earth’s Crust”
According to Oresanya, geological assessments, sensor readings and field investigations have ruled out several possible sources and increasingly point toward the earth’s crust.
“Yes, we’ve made appreciable progress. We have succeeded in eliminating other locations and zeroed in on the fact that the gas may actually be coming from the Earth’s crust. The geology confirms it,” he said.
He explained that all affected locations appear to lie along the same geological line, suggesting a connected underground source.
“What we are reviewing now is whether the gas is from tectonic activity — the Earth’s crust itself bringing the gas up,” he added.
Pipeline Operations Suspended
As a precautionary measure, the Ogun State Government has suspended gas pipeline operations within the affected corridor to eliminate any possibility of leakage.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the emissions consist mainly of methane with traces of hydrogen sulphide, gases that can occur naturally underground where oxygen is absent.
Quarry activities in the area are also being monitored, with authorities warning that blasting operations could potentially widen underground channels and aid gas migration.
“We have stopped pipeline operations to eliminate all possibilities. We have not stopped quarry activities yet, but if our investigation confirms they are responsible, we will stop them immediately,” Oresanya stated.
Earthquake Prediction Raises Concerns
The commissioner also referenced an inaugural lecture delivered in April 2026 by a professor of Solid Earth Physics at Tai Solarin University of Education, which suggested that Ijebu-Ode could experience an earthquake by 2028.
“Just April this year, a professor gave an inaugural lecture on the fact that Ijebu-Ode may witness an earthquake in 2028. You don’t have to dismiss that statement, even with what is happening right now,” he said.
Schools Remain Open
Despite growing public concern, the government says there is no directive to close schools.
Gas detection devices have been installed at Our Lady of Apostles School and other affected institutions along the suspected geological alignment to enable real-time monitoring.
Security agencies, including the DSS and Amotekun Corps, have also investigated reports of possible sabotage, but officials say CCTV footage and security sweeps found no evidence of criminal activity.
“There is no instruction to close schools. We must not create panic where it is not justified,” Oresanya stressed.
He noted that many of the recent hospital cases involved mild respiratory discomfort, while some were linked to anxiety. Of the 40 students treated during the latest incident, 27 were reportedly asthmatic and received oxygen before being discharged.
Safety Measures in Place
Pending the conclusion of investigations, schools have been advised to use wet handkerchiefs over the nose during suspected gas emissions. Ambulances and emergency response teams equipped with oxygen tanks have also been stationed around affected schools.
The state government is working with experts from Olabisi Onabanjo University, the Federal University of Technology Abeokuta, NNPC and the Geological Survey Agency to determine the exact cause of the emissions.
Authorities have also dismissed claims linking the incidents to a recent NDLEA drug bust, insisting that the pattern of emissions follows a geological alignment rather than isolated chemical contamination.
As investigations continue, residents remain hopeful that scientists will soon determine whether the recurring gas emissions are the result of natural tectonic activity, human-induced underground disturbances, or a combination of both.
