About 30 students and a teacher of Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, Epe Garage, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, were hospitalised on Tuesday after a suspected chemical odour triggered panic shortly after the morning assembly.

The Vice Principal, Mrs. Adeola Borogun, clarified that the incident was not caused by a gas explosion but by a strange odour detected within the school premises, which led to an emergency situation as several students began vomiting and fainting.

According to her, the school management immediately contacted emergency services, prompting ambulances from the General Hospital, Ijebu Ode, to evacuate the affected individuals for treatment.

Confirming the incident, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Banjo Adeoye, said all 30 students and the teacher were attended to, noting that most of them were in stable condition. He added that the exact source of the suspected chemical exposure had not yet been identified.

Officials from the Ogun State Ministry of Environment also responded to the situation. The Permanent Secretary, Dr. Kafayat Lawal, said environmental officers have been deployed to assess air quality within the school and determine the origin of the odour.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Ijebu Ode Local Government, Dare Alebiosu, who visited the hospital, assured that no lives were lost and that the situation had been brought under control. He added that a full investigation is underway and urged parents to monitor their children for any unusual symptoms as authorities continue efforts to uncover the cause.