18 Dead, 55 Injured in Lagos Explosion

By Timothy Ojo

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hakeem Olusegun Odumosu, Sunday, revealed that an articulated vehicle, laden with granite triggered the deadly pipeline explosion that sent Lagos mourning over the weekend.

There also unconfirmed reports that at least 18 people, including some children, died in the explosion while 55 were treated at the Nigerian Navy Hospital in Ojo Cantonment, for varying degrees of injuries.

The Naval facility, which itself was partially damaged by shocks from the explosion, transferred two critically injured persons, who suffered traumatic brain injury, to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Lagos.

It was, indeed, a dark Sunday in Abule-Ado as the tragedy also destroyed many houses, including a school, Bethlehem Girls College, located near the epicenter of the explosion.

Bethlehem Girls College, a school with boarding facilities, was home to at least 60 students.

Police Commissioner Odumosu told journalists that the tragedy was caused by the driver of a trailer, carrying granite, whose vehicle got stuck as he was trying to navigate his way through the bad terrain.

The tyres got stuck and were rolling without motion, digging deep into the ground. According to the police boss, the explosion, which happened in the wee hours of Sunday, was sparked when the tyres continued to dig deeper and deeper till it affected the pipeline.

He noted, sadly, that the explosion was aided by a nearby gas retail store which exploded moments after the blast.

Also briefing the press, the Director-General of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu said the explosion triggered secondary explosions.

“There are a number of secondary explosions which have caused significant damage to multiple buildings including the levelling of a Church to the ground and the destruction of St. Margaret’s Girls Hostel.”

The Group Managing Director, GMD, of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mr. Mele Kyari, also visited the disaster zone on Sunday.

After sympathising with the government and people of Lagos State, he warned Lagosians to desist from building near and around the corporation’s pipeline right of way to avoid disasters as occurred as the one at Abule-Ado.

Kyari issued the same warning to gas vendors who sell their merchandise around the pipeline to stop immediately.

The NNPC boss partially corroborated the account of the Lagos Police Commissioner confirming that the explosion was aggravated by a spark that ignited fire from an extensively charged atmosphere that emanated from gas cylinder leakages.

He told Channels Television: “There are problems around standard processes that are not optimum and has allowed things to happen. Explosions caused by a spark that ignited fire from an extensively charged atmosphere that emanated from gas cylinder leakages.

“Our pipeline, unfortunately, is very close to this location, so the incident ignited our pipeline; we will take down the fire immediately with all the efforts of partners, but the important thing is that people should not build houses around pipelines, it is very dangerous and they should respect our right of way. It is for the safety of all and it is about ensuring people are safe.”