No Evidence Of Criminal Activity Behind Ogun Schools’ Mysterious Gas Leaks – Environment Commissioner, Oresanya
By Oludare Joshua
The Ogun State Government has dismissed claims that criminal elements are responsible for the recurring gas leak incidents that have affected several schools and communities in Ijebu-Ode and its environs, insisting that ongoing scientific investigations point instead to possible geological causes.
The Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Ola Oresanya, disclosed this while providing an update on the government’s investigation into the mysterious gas emissions that have left more than 200 students requiring medical attention over the past two months.
Speaking on the development, Oresanya described the incidents as highly unusual, particularly because Ijebu-Ode is not known as one of Ogun State’s major industrial hubs where industrial emissions would ordinarily be suspected.
According to him, the government initially explored several possible causes, including industrial pollution and unsafe human activities. Investigators combed affected communities and identified individuals producing local insecticides using carbide and cattle urine. However, further assessment revealed that these activities were located far from the affected schools and could not reasonably account for the widespread incidents.
The Commissioner explained that after the first occurrence, the state government immediately deployed advanced air-monitoring equipment and gas detection systems around the affected schools and communities to gather scientific evidence.
”When the second incident occurred, our gas analyzers detected methane gas with unusually high sulphide content,” Oresanya revealed.
He noted that the readings obtained from monitoring devices showed significant concentrations of methane and sulphide gases, with some locations recording extremely high values while nearby areas recorded none, suggesting the existence of a complex underground source.
The mystery deepened when similar incidents were reported almost simultaneously at multiple schools, including Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, Anglican Girls Grammar School, St. Anthony Grammar School, Ijebu-Imushin, and other private institutions within the area.
The Commissioner stated that the synchronized nature of the occurrences prompted investigators to examine geological factors rather than isolated human activities.
Subsequent geological assessments, he explained, revealed the presence of an underground fracture or fault line running beneath the affected communities.
”Our investigations showed that these schools and settlements are located along the same geological fracture. This explains why the gas emissions were detected in multiple locations at almost the same time,” he said.
Oresanya disclosed that experts have narrowed the possible causes to two primary factors: natural tectonic activity beneath the earth’s surface or seismic disturbances resulting from quarry blasting operations in nearby areas.
According to him, scientific evidence increasingly suggests that the methane gas is emanating from beneath the ground through existing geological fractures.
To establish the exact trigger, the Ogun State Government is collaborating with the Federal Government and leading academic institutions, including the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) and Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye. Teams of geologists, hydrogeologists and geophysicists have been engaged to determine whether quarry activities or natural earth movements are responsible for the phenomenon.
Addressing public concerns that criminals may be deliberately releasing the gas into the atmosphere, the Commissioner maintained that no evidence has been found to support such allegations.
”I understand the fears and concerns of residents and parents. However, all investigations conducted so far have not produced any evidence suggesting criminal involvement,” he said.
He added that security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Amotekun Corps and local vigilante groups, have participated in the investigations without uncovering any indication of sabotage or criminal activity.
As part of preventive measures, the government has installed surveillance cameras and additional environmental monitoring equipment around the affected schools to ensure continuous observation and early detection of any future occurrences.
Oresanya also revealed that historical records point to a significant earth tremor that occurred in Ijebu-Ode in 1984. Available geological documentation indicates that fault lines run through parts of the town, lending further support to the theory that the current gas emissions may be linked to underground geological processes.
While investigations continue, the Commissioner urged residents to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information.
He advised that anyone exposed to the gas should immediately cover their nose with a water-soaked cloth and move to a well-ventilated area while seeking medical attention if symptoms persist.
The Commissioner reassured residents that the Ogun State Government remains committed to uncovering the exact cause of the incidents and implementing lasting solutions to safeguard lives and property.
”The government is leaving no stone unturned. Our priority is the safety of our people, and we will continue working with experts until the root cause is fully established and addressed,” Oresanya stated.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner also appealed to residents to cooperate with the government during the ongoing rainy season by keeping drainage channels free of refuse and supporting efforts to prevent flooding across the state.
