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 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.”
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.”
-Punch
No comments:
Post a Comment