Reporters from Eagle 102.5 FM, who were on ground to assess the situation, gathered that several students were affected after reportedly inhaling a toxic substance believed to be linked to the incident. The affected students were immediately rushed to General Hospital Ijebu Ode, where they are currently receiving medical attention.
A correspondent with Milestones Beats Online, who was present in the area earlier, confirmed perceiving a strong, pungent odour but noted that it could not be definitively identified as a gas leak.
Providing further details, a teacher who spoke on condition of anonymity said the incident occurred during school hours when a noxious substance reportedly emanating from outside the school premises polluted the environment. The fumes, according to the source, overwhelmed several students, with some reportedly collapsing.
However, conflicting accounts from some parents suggest the source of the incident may have been internal. They alleged that the emission originated from the school laboratory during a practical session for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). According to this version, a piece of laboratory equipment may have slipped from the hand of a teacher or student, releasing a substance that spread rapidly across the premises.
One of the parents, Mrs. Blessing Olawunmi, recounted her ordeal, stating that her daughter, a Senior Secondary School 2 student, was initially involved in assisting an affected colleague to the hospital before she herself became overwhelmed and fainted. She added that her daughter was later revived with oxygen support, alongside other affected students.
As of the time of filing this report, the school had been shut by authorities, while the principal had yet to issue an official statement. Efforts to obtain confirmation or clarification from the school management were unsuccessful, leaving the exact cause of the incident undetermined.
Meanwhile, concerned residents and community members have called on relevant authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and implement measures to ensure the safety of students and the surrounding environment.
