An inferno said to have been caused by an explosion from a vandalised Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, pipeline on Pipeline Road off Awori by stop, has left no fewer than 100 houses, 100 shops and 50 cars destroyed in the early hours of yesterday, in Abule-Egba and Agege areas of Lagos, rendering several families homeless.
However, no life was lost in the disaster but some residents sustained varying degrees of burns. The pipeline vandals, as gathered, stormed the area at midnight with three trucks. Residents said they dug a hole at a connecting point, at 4, Segun Akinola Street, opposite Tipper Garage, off Awori Road. Thereafter, they broke the pipe and connected their hose, from where they siphoned the combustive product until 2a.m., when the fire started. Residents on Pipeline Road, who were jolted from sleep by the explosion, scampered in different directions, as the ravaging fire spread. Streets affected included Akirele, Adebowale, Shogowole, Cantowi, Taiwo Adewole, Awori, Santos, Iyalode and Shobowale. Others are Charity Road Junction, opposite Oko-Oba market, down to Abattoir and Ile-Epo areas of Agege.
Eyewitness narrated that the timely response of emergency officials prevented the fire from spreading to Samar Petrol Station, which is close to the scene of the incident. On Iyalode Street, eight houses, 28 shops and eight cars were razed. Eight cars were destroyed by fire on Santos Street, while a storey building and 15 shops were affected on Shobowale Street. Ironically, on December 26, 2006, similar incident occurred in same area and hundreds of people were burnt to death.
Other rescue teams that responded include men of the Lagos State Fire Service, the state Police Command, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC; Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA; Lagos State Emergency Ambulance Service, LASEMBUS, among others. While taking a tour around the affected streets, a widow, Mrs Ruth Joseph, who sustained burns but took to self-medication, caught the state Commisioner of Police Imohimi Edgal’s attention. He directed the Divisional Police Officer-in-Charge of Abule-Egba Division, SP Harrison Nwabusi, to take the injured to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Ikeja for treatment, promising to take over the medical expenses. In his address to members of Awori community, he warned them against indulging vandals in their nefarious activities.
Narrating her close shave with death, one of the victims, Mrs Ruth Joseph, said: “We were sleeping when we heard the shout of fire. By the time I got up, the fire was already in my apartment. “I immediately rushed to rescue my children, but I was only able to get two of them out unhurt. By the time I went in for Samuel, the fire had taken over the entire apartment. “I am a poor widow and does not have money. That is why I decided to treat myself. But my joy of getting better treatment is fulfilled with the CP’s directive that my son and I be taken to the hospital for treatment.”
Sunday Alade, a resident in Awori, said the activities of illegal bunkerers had been going on in the area for a while without any moves to checkmate them, as they employed the services of miscreants and armed personnel to carry out the nefarious acts. According to Alade, “the incident happened around 3.30a.m. I woke up to a loud sound and fire from afar. People started screaming ‘fire’ to alert neighbours who were probably asleep, as the raging fire spread at a fast pace. “On getting close to the scene, I could see some people carrying various kegs of petrol. But thank God people were able to escape from their houses before the fire could reach the buildings that included retail shops. “Also, save for the timely intervention of firefighters and rescue team, the damage could have been colossal, as they promptly put out the fire. We really thank God, no life was lost.” Another resident, Mr. Toheeb Ismaila, said: “The vandals dug a hole to connect their hose to NNPC pipelines. They dropped the hose inside the gutter without shutting the valves. This was what caused the fire. “The fire spread through the gutter where the products spilt. It passed through Just Rite Shopping Mall, Samar Filling Station to the canal near Agege Abattoir and Charity Road Junction, opposite Oko Oba Market.” Another resident, Mrs Justina Samakai, said: “This incident has soiled Christmas celebration for my family because we lost everything in the fire.” Another resident, Mr. Chima Mokwoye, disclosed that when they sighted the trucks moving to the location, residents concluded they were NNPC officials.
Owner of the Auto-Pillar Mart, James Akindele, who suffered the worst, slumped while inspecting the extent of damage he suffered. Akindele was rescued and rushed by friends and relatives to an undisclosed hospital for immediate medical care. His friend, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated that James restocked his store a few days ago, to meet his customers’ demands. Meanwhile, Lagos State, through LASEMA, has commenced investigation into the immediate and remote cause of the incident with a view to prevent future occurrence as well as punish perpetrators as a deterrent to others.
