Scores of oil thieves were yesterday feared to have been burnt to death, while scooping fuel at a site of vandalised pipeline in Ije-Ododo, near Ijegun in Iba Local Council Development Area of Lagos, when an NNPC oil pipeline exploded. A witness said the raging fire started when about 30 oil thieves loaded in two canoes arrived the scene and started scooping fuel into hundreds of 50 kilogramme jerry cans.

Daily Sun learnt that luck ran out on them, when a mysterious fire started and engulfed the environment, including the thieves, their jerry cans and other materials. The fire raged for several hours, as fire fighters stayed away from the scene of the inferno. Some men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC) and NNPC officials were at the scene to assess the situation.

The NSCDC officer who simply identified himself as Mr. Baiye said: “You can see that the fire is still raging. We can’t go far to examine the damaged pipeline or know the number of people killed because the pipeline is buried under water.” Residents of Ije-Ododo who spoke in separate interviews alleged that the suspected oil thieves who vandalised the pipeline conspired with the police in their nefarious activities. Confirming the incident, the Information Officer, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, for South West, Ibrahim Farinloye said NEMA was informed about the incident.

He said both state and federal firefighters were at the scene of the inferno but could not do much because it required a technical way to handle. However, residents of the community blamed the authority of the NNPC for the explosion. According to them, such explosion had become an annual ritual. They questioned the motive behind the withdrawal of security men guarding the pipeline facilities in Oke Agemo axis of the area.

According to the traditional ruler of the community, Alhaji Chief Tajudeen Suberu Ododo, the inability of firefighters to put off the fire was because of the inaccessible road to the scene. A resident, who identified himself as Isiaka Bello Ajadi told Daily Sun that: “The fire started around 10:00p.m on Monday night and it was very serious that many people started running away from the scene.” “Since 1996, we have been writing and appealing to NNPC to sandfill that road and links us with Abule Ado but they have refused to answer us. See what has happened now.”

Meanwhile many residents of the community have since Monday night been relocating from the scene of the incident for fear of escalation of the inferno, even as Fire Service men, National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) and Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA) officials are still battling to put out the fire.

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/cover/scores-of-oil-thieves-feared-killed-in-lagos-pipeline-fire/

PORVERTY, may their soul RIP

WHY SO MANY HIDDEN POSTS

Does being poor make people think like idi.ots?

any way RIP!! if only GEJ had made life little easier

feelamong: Does being poor make people think like idi.ots?

any way RIP!! if only GEJ had made life little easier

Those guys involved are idiots, a times how some people reason.
Idiots! just imagine what bunch of idiots have caused to the people leaving around there.

RIH (Rest In Hell)

I GUESS THE REAL OIL THIEVES ARE BEHIND THIS. THE GOVT MUSTA PAID FOR 'EM TO BE HIDDEN. LOL

jamp: WHY SO MANY HIDDEN POSTS

It's because they said too much truth

let govt provide employment opportunities for all and see if all these teething problem will not reduce.

they are no oil thieves, they were just interested in 4-litre and 20-litre oil to keep spirit and soul together

Should i feel pity of people who went on suicide mission?

It's because they said too much truth

Awoof n Greed. Dey neva learn, anoda set ll go n scoop fuel 2mrw even after hearn dis story.

Get rich or burn trying

NAIRALAND GO SOON TURN PDP........HIDDEN POST EVERYWHERE .

NO MORE EXPRESSION OF OPINION AGAIN ABI.

It's official, people. Nigerian journalism has gone to the dogs. What on God's green earth is "mysterious fire". That was spontaneous combustion, you dimwiits.

mychaella: It's official, people. Nigerian journalism has gone to the dogs. What on God's green earth is "mysterious fire". That was spontaneous combustion, you dimwiits.

Na today
I am surprised the report didn't tell us how they burnt profusely before they gave up the ghost
Then immediately the police stormed the place and swung into action
No be the Naija method of reporting?


Most likely someone came with a source that sparked a fire

They just wasted their life's because of money. Gosh...

[quote author=Baby mama]

[color=#990000]Same story always
Useless firemen,why are they being paid
The fire required technical handling
I have heard it all
Same way 5 children burnt to death because their vehicle no fit enter the neighborhood
Sometimes their hose is too short or they don't have water
Shame on all the leaders of that land
Where is Fashola,Jonathan dey Abuja,,this is happening in his state,what is he doing about his useless firemen that cannot put out fire
sist, abeg take am easy! I know say u de vex die.

Am nt supporting people scooping oil from burst oil pipeline but as Dead body no dey talk now. They hav labeld them oil thieves cos they cant defend themselves when they all know d real oil thieves. RIP to the dead sha.

It behoves me to think that common sense has all of a sudden become the rarest commodity on earth...
My people perish for lack of knowledge... RIP.

enyice: It behoves me to think that common sense has all of a sudden become the rarest commodity on earth...
My people perish for lack of knowledge... RIP.

. And ur point is?

GOD HAVE MERCY.

All those ilaje boys never die finish? Na so them dey come steal for night for aeromarintine.

Martini101: . And ur point is?

My point is.... Knowing an obvious danger and consciously embarking on it.

Everyday, we hear news of pipeline explosion as a result of pipeline vandalisation and the casualities, yet, we have aggressively refused to heed to warnings and take caution.

The results has always been ANARCHY, TEARS and CHAOS.