10 June 2015, Lagos – A pipeline explosion occurred at Ije-Ododo in Ojo Local Government Area, Lagos, following the activities of suspected pipeline vandals.
Vanguard gathered that the explosion occurred at 11:15p.m., Monday, causing panic in the community.
When Vanguard visited the scene at about 12:30p.m. yesterday, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, officials and men of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, were not around.
Only members of Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, contracted by the Federal Government to secure pipelines, were sighted few metres from the explosion point.
Sources said accessing the scene was difficult as the plank bridge constructed by NNPC for easy access to the point had been damaged by the vandals to avoid any disturbance from security officials.
Mr. Tajudeen Olaosebikan, a commercial motorcycle operator, said the explosion occurred few minutes after a downpour.
According to him, “this was few minutes past 11p.m. At that time, I was on my way to Ije-Ododo when there was thunder and few seconds later, I heard a loud bang. The next thing I saw was fire from the pipeline.”
Olaosebikan said vandals must have commenced their operations immediately the heavy downpour started.
-Vanguard