Two dead, 30 vehicles burnt as illegal bunkers trigger pipeline explosion in Lagos

By David Olalekan.

Two people have been confirmed dead and 30 vehicles burnt in Ijegun, Lagos State, following a tragic pipeline explosion which occurred in the early hours of this morning, according to reports from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency.

An official of the agency disclosed that the actual loss of the tragic incident would be determined after the fire has been put out, while noting that the explosion occurred when security agencies confronted the vandals.

“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”, the official said.