The Ogun State Government has assured residents that the situation arising from the unusual gaseous odour reported in parts of the Ijebu axis is under control, as it intensifies investigations into the incident that left several secondary school students requiring medical attention on Wednesday.

The government’s assurance followed reports of the odour in Ijebu-Ode, Ijebu-Igbo and Ago-Iwoye, which triggered panic among students, teachers, parents and residents, with affected students taken to hospitals for treatment.

As part of its response, a government assessment team visited the General Hospital, where more than 30 students were attended to, before proceeding to Ijebu-Igbo Girls Grammar School for further assessment and investigation.

According to findings from the affected students and information provided by the attending doctor, the symptoms included shortness of breath, stomach disorders and drowsiness, among others.

While some of the students required oxygen to stabilise their conditions, others received minor medical attention. By the time the assessment team left the hospital, most of the students had been discharged, while a few remained under medical observation.

The team also inspected the school premises and surrounding areas as part of efforts to establish the extent of the incident and identify possible sources of the odour.

The assessment indicated that the phenomenon was not restricted to school premises, as residents in neighbouring communities also reported perceiving the odour. The Chairman of Ijebu North Local Government Area equally confirmed that the odour was perceived at the council secretariat.

A team from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) arrived at the scene to participate in the assessment and ongoing investigation.

Reports also indicated that students in other schools were affected, with some taken to other hospitals for treatment, while activities in some schools were disrupted.

The incident has renewed concerns over recurring episodes of unusual gaseous odour in the Ijebu axis, particularly in Ijebu-Ode, where similar occurrences have been reported since April 2026.

The Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, had earlier attributed the previous occurrences to natural underground gas emissions associated with geological and tectonic fault lines, ruling out sabotage or a gas pipeline leak as the cause.

However, investigations into Wednesday’s incident are continuing, with the involvement of relevant technical authorities expected to provide further insight into the source of the odour and its potential health and environmental implications.

The government is expected to sustain its monitoring of the affected areas and the condition of the students who remain under medical observation.

Residents are urged to remain calm while investigations continue, with further updates expected as more verified information becomes available.