Fire broke out in the Ijegun area of Lagos State on Thursday after suspected hoodlums vandalised pipelines belonging to the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation.
Although the details of the incident are still sketchy, it was gathered that some of the hoodlums were caught up in the explosion and were feared dead.
An eyewitness, Babajide Lawal, said the noise of the explosion woke the residents, adding that casualties have been recorded.
Lawal said, “There is fire incident at Ijegun Last Bus Stop, in fact, no one can move near the place because the whole area is burning. What woke us up was the sound of the explosion and when we came out to observe what happened, we saw the fire burning everywhere.”
An eyewitness, Babajide Lawal, said the noise of the explosion woke the residents, adding that casualties have been recorded.
Lawal said, “There is fire incident at Ijegun Last Bus Stop, in fact, no one can move near the place because the whole area is burning. What woke us up was the sound of the explosion and when we came out to observe what happened, we saw the fire burning everywhere.”
Firefighters from the National Emergency Management Agency and the Lagos State Fire Service were said to have responded to the incident.
The spokesperson for NEMA, South West zone, Ibrahim Farinloye, in a release said the agency had alerted the NNPC management of the development.
“NEMA has also called on the safety unit of the corporation to immediately shut down further supplies through pipeline in order to suffocate the fire.
“It is noted that vandals are responsible for the incident and some of them are affected in the inferno.
“Security agencies have cordoned off the area to restrict access of undesirable elements. People should remain calm,” he added.
An official of the Lagos State Fire Service, Amodu Shakiru, said firefighters were still battling the fire, adding that he could not make any comment yet.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has directed its team of engineers to immediately investigate and commence repairs caused during the pipeline explosion.
Mr Ndu Ughamadu, the Group General Manager, Public Affairs of NNPC told the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja that the explosion was caused by vandals and the Group Managing Director, Dr Maikanti Baru, has directed the corporation’s team of engineers to resume at the fire scene and redress the situation.
According to Ughamadu, “The fire was ignited when some vandals were scooping fuel from the pipeline.
“We urge everybody within the community to remain calm as the situation is under control. Our team of engineers has resumed at the site to bring the situation under control.”
Similarly, the National Emergency Management Agency said that the pipeline incident which occurred in the early hours of Thursday at Ijegun, in Lagos was caused by vandals.
Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, South-West Coordinator of NEMA told NAN on telephone that NEMA alerted the management of the NNPC on the early morning incident outbreak.
Farinloye said that NEMA also called on the Safety Unit of the NNPC to immediately shut down further supplies through the pipeline, in order to suffocate the fire.
“It is noted that vandals are responsible for the incident and some of them were burnt to death in the inferno.
“The NNPC safety firemen are specially trained to handle such delicate incidents and that is why NEMA immediately mobilised the NNPC to get to the scene.
“It will, however, take time before the inferno can be effectively tackled and supply to the pipeline is weakened and disabled,’’ he said.
Farinloye said, “In as much as the lives and property of the people are not threatened, the fire will be put off as soon as the safety of the fire officers is also assured’’.
However, NAN gathered that two people have been confirmed dead and about 30 vehicles burnt in the incident.
