A pipeline explosion in the Arepo
area of Ogun State killed about 30 people who went to siphon petroleum products
from a ruptured Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation pipeline on Saturday.
It was learnt that the fire broke out
after vandals started fighting over the oil. One of them was said to have fired
a shot that that led to the explosion.
Operatives of the Inspector General
of Police Special Task Force on Anti-Pipeline Vandalism Unit, Force
Headquarters Annex, Lagos, who were on patrol were said to have gone to the
scene to avert further disaster.
It was in the process that they
arrested a medical doctor, Dr. Odusina Adegboyega, and one of the survivors,
Sunday Reuben, on their way to the hospital.
Confirming the arrest, Assistant
Commissioner of Police, Friday Ibadin, who is in charge of the task force, said
the explosion started at about 2am on Saturday.
“Shortly after the explosion,
policemen led by Sector Commander, Lagos, DSP Onaghise Osayande, cordoned off
the area to reduce casualties while they awaited the arrival of fire fighters
to quench the fire.
“It was in the process that they
stumbled into a jeep carrying one of the survivors and a medical doctor who was
on his way to the hospital. In the course of interrogation, we discovered that
the survivor was one of those who participated in the killing of NNPC officials
last year.
“The task force arrested six
suspected vandals who were alleged to have participated in the incident that
led to the killing of three NNPC officials at Arepo Village, Owode, Ogun State.
“Sometime in August, 2012, there was
a fire outbreak which was caused by suspected vandals who burst the pipeline to
siphon petroleum products at Arepo.”
The spokesperson, National Emergency
Management Agency, South-West zone, Ibrahim Farinloye, confirmed the incident
to our correspondent on the telephone.
Farinloye said the casualty figure
could not be ascertained.
“The explosion has made the area
inaccessible but we will continue rescue efforts on Sunday (today),” he said.
Also, the NSCDC Public Relations
Officer of the Ogun Command, Mr. Kareem Olanrewaju, who confirmed the fire
said, “No arrest was made as the vandals escaped through Majidun.”
Residents however told our
correspondent that over 30 people were killed in the fire.
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Society
Y ar pple acting so dumb, as if dey don't know d implication of bursting petrol pipe. Nawa o
ReplyDeleteThese set of people must have been involved in this act for a very long time, I hope that the arrest of these few will surely lead to the arrest of others and sould be properly procecuted.
ReplyDelete