A major pipeline explosion in Lagos town of Ijegun has led to the death of two people with 30 vehicles also burnt to the ground.
Officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency say the extend of damage from the explosion is still being evaluated.
Fire fighters are at the scene of the explosion to help control the blazing fire.
Ibrahim Farinloye, a spokesperson for the emergency agency told local media that the explosion was triggered by the acts of some vandals.
“On arrival at the scene of the incident, it was gathered that some vandals were engaged in illegal bunkering activities at Fire Junction, Ijegun, within the vicinity where NNPC pipelines were buried.
“The vandals had already siphoned petrol into a 33,000 litres tanker while a second tanker of the same capacity was being loaded when security agencies suddenly intercepted them,” he said.
Two confirmed dead as pipeline explodes at Ijegun, Satellite Town, Lagos.
The explosion was caused by vandals scooping petrol from NNPC pipeline in the area.@NNPCgroup @Fedfireng @lasemasocial @followlasg @jidesanwoolu pic.twitter.com/3D6ONChb9y— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) July 4, 2019
Farinloye also said “While trying to escape, some of the siphoned fuel spilled into the drainage and the vandals were alleged to have set the spilled fuel on fire in a bid to deter the security agencies from apprehending them.
“The fire eventually returned to the pipeline point where the vandals siphoned the fuel and exploded with escalating fire which led to two fatalities and over 30 vehicles burnt.
“The actual loss will be determined upon conducting post disaster enumeration after the fire has been put out.”
Just this week at least 50 people were killed when an oil tanker vehicle exploded in Nigeria’s Benue state.
The oil tanker overturned on a highway leading to the state capital, Makurdi.
As often done by locals they gathered to collect fuel that was leaking from the vehicle despite warnings.
“In the process of scooping fuel, there was an explosion, which resulted in several people being burnt to death,” an eyewitness said about the incident.
Source: Africafeeds.com
