Pipeline Vandalism Triggers Explosion in Lagos ...Guts 100 shops, 50 vehicles

The activities of pipeline vandalism have caused an explosion at the Abule Egba area of Lagos State, and affected some areas of Agege, gutting no fewer than 100 shops and 50 vehicles.

Although they were initial fears that the explosion killed so many people, emergency workers, however, later disabused the notion.

However, five persons, including a widow, Ruth Joseph, and her son, Samuel, sustained varying degree of injuries.

The fire started at about 2 a.m. at Abule Egba before extending to Agric Junction, Abattoir in Agege area.

Those who were on ground to control the situation included police operatives, Lagos State Neighbourhood Corps (LNSC), Lagos State Fire Service and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA).

Out of the 50 vehicles that were razed, 19 belonged to a dealer, one Usman Hamzat.

Aside Hamzat's cars parked at Samar Petroleum, three other car shops in the area were also razed.

The fire which started in front of a private school at Segun Akinola Street, opposite Tiper Garage near Awori Bus stop, Abule Egba, was said to have been triggered by activities of vandals, who allegedly brought in three tankers of siphoned petrol.

On how she was burnt, the victim, Joseph, who spoke when she was visited by the state Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, said they were sleeping when they heard a loud bang and people were screaming.

She said: "We were sleeping when we started hearing screaming. I woke up and saw fire inside my home. The first thing that came to my mind was to rescue my children.

"I was able to get the other two out unhurt but when I went back for Samuel, the fire caught up with us.

"I am a poor widow and do not have money for hospital. That is why I am happy the police commissioner has directed that me and my son be taken to the General Hospital in Ikeja for treatment."

According to other residents, the vandals who dug a hole to connect their hose to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipelines had dropped the hose inside the gutter without locking the valves.

The petrol was said to have circulated through the gutter to Abattoir area where it ignited fire as a result of activities of early morning butchers, destroying every property along the path the fuel traversed.

Areas affected by the inferno included Arowolo Street, Shogbawole, Adefegba, Katonwi, Santos, Taiwo Adewole, Wamon Taofeek, Owode, Akinlere streets.

Others included Charity Road Junction opposite Oko Oba Market and parts of Ile-Epo and Abattoir

A woman, Stella John, said people fled their homes as soon as they heard the explosions, adding that several other persons sustained injuries as a result of stampede or occasioned by confusion.

The residents also accused fire service of late arrival to the scene, noting that emergency responders got there around 4a.m., two hours after the explosion.

General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Adesina Tiamiyu; Police Commissioner Edgal and officials from NNPC and other agencies visited the affected areas.

The Commander of Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Tunji Disu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, was on the spot with his men to prevent hoodlums from looting victims property and money when they ran for their lives.

Personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Red Cross officials were also on ground to protect live and property.

According to Tiamiyu, the fire affected nine streets, destroyed 38 vehicles, four tricycles, 71 shops, 30 rooms, two blocks of flat and a church auditorium.

He said: "LASEMA and other stakeholders responded to the fire outbreak which occurred as a result of the activities of suspected vandals around the NNPC pipeline in Abule Egba, Ojokoro Local Council Development Area (LCDA), which has destroyed properties worth millions of naira.

"However, no fatality was recorded and the few people who were injured were immediately administered to by the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) and the agency's paramedics.

"Prompt intervention by the Lagos Fire servicemen and LRU firemen, who immediately deployed fire trucks and personnel to combat the inferno, curtailed the further spread to adjoining buildings and the nearest filling station in the area to save the situation.

"Investigations are ongoing to ascertain the cause and people involved. The situation has been brought under control and people are free to go about their normal businesses."

Edgal accused the residents of the area of complicity, adding that they cannot claim they were not aware of activities of vandals in the area.

He told them to be thankful that the fuel passed through the gutter which cushioned the severity, noting that it would have been disastrous if the reverse were the case.