Many feared dead as vandals open fire at NNPC Pipeline

Scores of people were feared dead and many more injured after two factions of suspected oil vandals, engaged in a gun duel at the Arepo area of Ogun State.

The fight, alleged to be a supremacy one between the two factions, started after they met at the site where they used to siphon fuel from NNPC pipeline.

It was gathered that one group first reached the scene and was already scooping fuel, when the second group arrived. There was a heated quarrel and soon they started shooting. The bullet was said to have hit the pipeline, triggering off the explosion.

Another version of the story insisted that the vandals had already scooped fuel and were about to start their boat when it sparked off, causing the explosion.

An ex-banker and a landlord in area, Mr. Bayo Oke, residing at Beach Land Estate, located directly opposite the creek, was said to have collapsed and died immediately he heard the explosion. His grieving wife told residents that he had been suffering from hypertension.

As of yesterday, no security agency had dared to brave the site, which was still burning. Aside from the area being volatile as the vandals continued to hide in bushes, shooting at one another, security agencies said that the area is a swamp and dangerous for anyone to venture into.

The swamp has so far made it difficult for any security agency to state the casualty figures. Residents however insisted that over 100 died in the inferno, while many more were injured.

A resident said: “So many of them were badly burnt that their faces couldn’t be recognised. These vandals had already concluded their operation and were about to leave when their speed boat refused to start. It was while trying to start the speedboat that there was a spark. I learnt that more than 100 of them died!” 

Another resident said: “It was around 1:30am that we heard a loud explosion. It sounded like an earthquake. We saw ray of light from the river. The vandals, as usual scooped fuel from the pipeline installation, filled them into many jerry cans and packed them into their speed boats. Trouble started when they were igniting the engine of the speed boat, but it refused to start. The engine sparked, causing explosion. The explosion engulfed filled jerry cans. The vandals were also dragging some on the water with ropes. Those jerry cans spilled on the water surface, causing the fire to spread along the water surface until it reached the pipeline installation, leading to further explosions.”

A man, who claimed to be an eye witness, said that he and many others in the area heard the vandals’ screamed in pains and called for help.

A member of the Landlord Association of Beach Land Estate, said that an emergency meeting had been held at the estate, with the aim of petitioning the Federal Government. He said that they needed constant police presence in the area because of the vandals.

Confirming the explosion, the South-west Public Relations Officer of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, said they were yet to access the pipeline site because of its swampy nature.

His words: "An unconfirmed report on a clash between different groups of vandals at Arepo led to the pipeline explosion. NNPC have been alerted about the explosion and they have immediately shut down the supply valve to suffocate the fire and further stop feeding the fire. Meanwhile, efforts are on to put out the fire by the NNPC safety Unit. No one can confirm if there are casualties or anyone injured because the terrain is swampy. We are looking for access to the scene of the explosion because the terrain is swampy."

It would be recalled that on April, 28, this year, a gun duel between vandals and members of Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) claimed the life of a six months pregnant lady, Mrs. Damilola Fajana. She was returning from hospital where she had gone to visit her husband when a stray bullet from the warring faction hit her.