Panic as vandals spill fuel in Ejigbo

Residents of Oboye Street in Ejigbo, Lagos were Thursday gripped by fear of an inferno after suspected pipeline vandals spilled Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) on the roads and major drainages.

It was gathered that the vandals who invaded the area around 1am and siphoned PMS in several tankers, left the verve open while fleeing around 4am to evade police arrest.

The Ejigbo pipeline which has turned vandals’ haven in recent time, was among those under the direct supervision of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

It was gathered that the vandals, who were accompanied by persons clad in military camouflages, abandoned some of their equipment while fleeing the scene.



The apprehension of the residents was heightened by a similar incident in parts of Agege and Abule Egba months’ back which caused an explosion that left over 100 vehicles burnt, shops and houses destroyed and people injured.

According to residents, they woke up Thursday morning to see PMS flowing from across the streets into gutters and adjoining streets.

Disturbed by the sight of the PMS, a source said residents were advised not to ignite fire nor drive through the affected places to avoid an outbreak.

“Community leaders contacted the Ejigbo Police Division and then the fire service, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC), Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and officials of the NNPC.

“All these agencies were on ground and the NNPC officials stopped the leakage. The area was cordoned off before the valves were eventually closed. Fire Service poured some chemical substances on the road and gutter to avoid fire outbreak.”

Contacted, spokesperson for the NSCDC, Mrs. Kehinde Bada said officials of the agency got to the location around 4:30am and discovered three leaking pipes, adding that they immediately contacted other stakeholders who moved to the scene to avert danger.

Bada said has no reports on claims that the vandals siphoned PMS in several tankers, adding that she was unaware if any equipment was recovered.