LASEMA Confirms Two dead, 30 vehicles burnt in Lagos pipeline explosion

LASEMA effort to put out Ijegun Pipeline fire abortive

A fire Explosion that has engulfed the Last Bus Stop area of Ijegun, in the Igando-Ikotun Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, early Thursday morning has claimed the lives of many.

According to report, some suspected bunkerers were on their way out of the area after scooping fuel from a vandalised pipeline when one of their tankers fell and spilled fuel.

The fuel spillage was said to have caused the fire incident as residents scamper for safety abandoning their homes.

Babajide Lawal, who witnessed the incident, said the noise of the explosion woke the residents, adding that casualties have been recorded.

Lawal said, “There is fire incident at Ijegun Last Bus Stop, in fact, no one can move near the place because the whole area is burning. What woke us up was the sound of the explosion and when we came out to observe what happened, we saw the fire burning everywhere.”

The flames from the explosion have hinder people from gaining access to the area, making it difficult to ascertain the number of casualties and burnt properties.

LASEMA Confirms Two dead, 30 vehicles burnt in Lagos pipeline explosion

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency has confirmed the death of two persons and 30 vehicles burnt in the Ijegun, Lagos pipeline explosion, adding that the total loss would be determined at the end of the ongoing firefighting operation.

The spokesperson for the agency stated that the explosion occurred when security agencies intercepted the vandals in the act, saying, “On arrival of the LRT 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.

“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.”

He noted that responders at the scene included men of the Lagos State Fire Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the police.

The spokesperson for NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye, said the safety of firefighters needed to be assured before the fire would be put off.

He said, “Pipeline fire is specialised fire management; not all firemen can handle it.

“NNPC safety firemen are specially trained to handle such delicate incident and that is why NEMA mobilised the NNPC to the scene.

“It will take time before the inferno can be tackled until the supplies from the pipeline is weak and disabled when supplies are shutdown and the main source and valves closest to the scene.

“In as much as lives and property of the people are not threatened, the fire will be put off as soon as the safety of the fire officers are also assured.”

 LASEMA effort to put out Ijegun Pipeline fire abortive

Efforts by various stakeholders to manage the situation is still ongoing, as the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Red Cross, the Nigerian army are battling to put off the fire.

Vanguard reports that as at 11:26hrs, the fire which started by 05:25hrs at Ijegun is still strong. The smoke can be seen from areas as far as FESTAC and Okota and Egbeda axis of Lagos State.

It was gathered that all effort still remains abortive as the fire kept sustaining strength, as a result of the fuel source which is the punctured pipeline area is still open. The firefighters are making good effort to stop the fire from getting to the gas plant just less than 20 meters from the fire centre.

Also, many other support agencies have arrived. They include the Red Cross, the LASEMA, the Nigerian Army, NSDC, the Police, etc.

 The LASEMA has moved out of the burnt vehicles to give way for more fire fighting trucks and more evacuation.

The 2 fatalities and more than 40 injured has been moved. The fatalities happened at the first area of the fire at Ije Ododo which confirmed the news that the siphoning was going on in two locations simultaneously.

The ije Ododo fire was stopped but the fire moved to the Ijegun market area razing down shops and kiosks before stop where the fuel drained into the Ijegun market gutters.