Scores Injured as Prophet, Parishioner Die in Lagos Pipeline Explosion ...Five vandals dead, as police arrest one

 

 

A prophet attached to one of the white garment churches and his parishioner were some of the casualties of the explosion that engulfed some pipelines belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) at the Igando area of Lagos State on Thursday.

The cleric and the parishioner were said to have visited the canal nearby to conduct some spiritual exercise as demanded from the latter by the former when the explosion occurred and burnt them beyond recognition.

Having lit candles for the spiritual exercise, the flames caught fire and caught up with petroleum product seeping through the pipe on the ground.

Although those rescued by emergency responders were few, it was gathered from onlookers that the initial persons that were injured had been rushed to various nearby hospitals.

Caused by a ruptured pipeline left unattended to by vandals, the explosion was further exacerbated by the spilling products which had soaked the ground at the back of the affected estates- Diamond, Lanre and Gloryland.

 

It was also gathered that five of the vandals, who were left behind to secure the stolen products, were also burnt in the explosion, while the police arrested one.

As the firefighters from the Lagos State Fire Service and other emergency responders battled the inferno, they recorded the first success at about 10.05 a.m. with the rescue of one of the residents before subsequent rescues came. 

Although badly burnt by the flames, the survivors were quickly given first aid before being transferred to the Lagos State Ambulance Services (LASAMBUS) for onward treatment at the hospital.

Confirming the explosion, the Director-General of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, said: “There was an outbreak of fire at the back Diamond Estate along Isheri/LASU -Igando Road. I suspect that the fire must have been caused by pipeline vandals. We activated the Lagos State Response Plan and all key stakeholders were being mobilised.

“This resulted in a fire outbreak at four points. A man who sustained 70 degree burns was rescued and taken to a General Hospital in Alimosho, while an adult male was burnt to death; his body was bagged and taken to mortuary.”

Oke-Osanyintolu added that the actual loss would be determined upon a post-disaster enumeration after the fire has been put out and normalcy restored, adding that LASEMA response team and other responders will be taking measures to minimise the risk of  further explosion.

At the scene of the incident, it was evident that the vandals had held sway for a long time before the explosion happened.

From THISDAY observation, across the swamp that had a make-shift bridge connecting the estate and the other side of Baruwa, tons of kegs filled with siphoned petroleum products were bagged in sacks for onward transportation.

Confirming the phenomenon, a senior police officer, who spoke to THISDAY on the condition of anonymity, said: “It is obvious that a large scale vandalism has been taking place here.

“Kegs filled with petroleum products were packed inside different sacks. Apparently, the vandals were done siphoning from the NNPC pipelines and left the ruptured pipe uncovered.

“What is not yet clear is how the fire started because they were done with their act of illegality. They had packed the stolen products which they would convey to their markets before the explosion exposed them.”

Meanwhile, residents who lamented that this is the third explosion, also admitted that such acts of vandalism have become synonymous with the environment as the vandals have unfettered access to the area.

One of the residents of the area, Mrs. Chinonyelum Akonye, told THISDAY that their initial reaction when they heard the explosions was to flee as they could not tell the extent of the damage this time around.

According to her,  “When the explosion happened, I did not care to pick anything from the house. The first thing that came to my mind was to flee to safety. However, many people sustained injuries.

"The government needs to do something about this issue. We are tired of recurring fire outbreaks and the dangers we are subjected to as a result of activities of vandals.”

However, of all the residents interviewed, there was a general consensus that the security agencies have not been living up to their responsibilities. Some of them alleged that they have anonymously reported such acts of vandalism to the security agencies.

Speaking with journalists, Youth Leader of Iyando Odo Community, Mr. Atobatele Isreal, lamented that the security operatives mounted at the pipelines to curb vandalism have not been active enough on their job as they should, thus paving way for vandals to have a field day.

He also alleged that the authorities turned a blind eye despite the fact that "unlike the explosion before this one, the pipeline leaked for two to three days. The security personnel in charge of the pipeline are not doing their job. The explosion started around 7:30 a.m.

“This passage had been locked to stop people from taking the wood bridge. Those who came this morning to bath were driven away, if not, the casualty figure would have been higher.”

On arrival at the scene, the Lagos State Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, DCP Ali Mohammed, while sympathising with residents, said security personnel had warned them against vandalism. 

He said: "We can now see the act of the vandals. Before the incident, they were warned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) officials, the policemen and other security personnel not move close to that area. When someone is destined to die, the person will not heed to warnings.

“They were warned when the fire started but unfortunately, they still found their way there. Before this time, policemen have been here and when they came, they met some people here lighting candles.”