Two persons were killed Yesterday when the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPC), exploded at the Gloryland Estate, Isheri Olofin, along Isheri-Igando-LASU Expressway in Lagos as petroleum pipeline exploded
Many people were also injured as they scampered for safety thinking that it was a bomb explosion.
Reports say the explosion which occurred at about 8 am sent residents of the estate and the adjoining Diamond Estate scampering to safety.
Some residents were said to have fled their homes in their night wears when the explosion began.
Cars reportedly ran into each other as some residents tried to drive their vehicles out of the estate.
A resident, Bernard Okeke, said they believed the explosion was caused by vandals because they had been perceiving the strong smell of petrol in the estate as early as 6 am before the explosion occurred.
Okeke said:
” We knew this would happen because everyday vandal comes to scoop fuel in the area. We knew we were sitting on a keg of gunpowder ready to explode; now it has happened. At least two persons have been killed. We are appealing to the government to do something urgent as we have reported many times to the NNPC, but they did not do anything “
Director-General, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, confirmed the incident, saying emergency responders have been deployed in the scene.
“There is an outbreak of fire at the back of Diamond Estate along Isheri/Lasu -Igando Road. I suspect that the fire must have been caused by pipeline vandalism. I have activated the Lagos State Response Plan. All key stakeholders have moved to the scene,”
he said
