LAGOS EXPLOSION: 17 DEAD, OVER 200 DISPLACED

Following the explosion that rocked the Abúlé-Ado area near the International Trade Fair Complex, Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State on Sunday, about 17 people have been confirmed dead, over 200 people have been displaced and more than 50 houses have been destroyed. Several vehicles parked in the vicinity were also destroyed.

It was gathered that the incident occurred at about 8.45 am, and damaged no fewer than 50 buildings. In the same vein, Bethlehem Girls College, owned by the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos was also affected.

Boarding pupils of the Bethlehem Girls College were trapped in the wreckage of their hostel, and had to be pulled out of the rubble by neighbours and sympathisers. The Principal of the college, Rev. Sr. Henritta Alokha, lost her life while attempting to rescue the pupils.

Some reports have it that the explosion occurred after a truck hit some gas cylinders in a gas processing plant which was located near the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s System 2B pipeline’s right of way.

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The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency reported that 17 people were confirmed dead, and 25 were injured. According to the Public Affairs Officer of the agency, Nosa Okunbor, “The incident, which recorded 17 dead and 25 injured, destroyed property estimated to worth hundreds of millions of Naira, with indescribable devastation to other assets, as well as the environment.

“Aside these, people in their hundreds have suddenly become displaced in an incident in which two LASEMA response teams, as well as the Lagos State Government Fire Service, the Rapid Response Squad of the Nigeria Police and other first responders were in full attendance.”

Quoting the Director-General of LASEMA, Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, he said the agency could not tell the primary cause of the incident.

“While security agents are investigating the cause of the explosion, recovery and rescue activities were carried out by the Ministry of Special Duties, LASEMA, men of the Lagos State Fire Service, the Federal Fire Service Department, the Lagos State Safety Commission, LASBCA and other first responders.

The National Emergency Management Agency said it recovered 15 corpses, including a family of four. Also reported amongst the casualties was a couple and their two sons who were on their way to church when the incident happened. About 60 pupils of the Bethlehem Girls College, who sustained varying degrees of injury, were taken to the Nigerian Navy Hospital in Satellite Town.

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The Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC, Kennie Obateru, explained that preliminary findings indicated that the impact of the explosion was so huge that it led to the collapse of nearby houses and damage to the pipeline.

The corporation’s Group Managing Director, Mele Kyari, and other management staff of the oil firm were said to have left for Lagos on Sunday evening for an on-the-spot assessment. Obateru stated that following the report of the explosion, the corporation halted pumping operations on the Atlas Cove-Mosimi pipeline, which was active at the time.

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), condoled with the families of the victims. Buhari also consoled all those who lost property to the incident or were affected in any way, according to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu.

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He commiserated with the Lagos State Government and all those affected by the incident and was quoted as saying, “I have received with sadness the news of this unfortunate incident, which caused loss of lives and property.

“A misfortune of whatever scale anywhere is a tragedy to the country, and while the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation makes efforts to determine the cause of the incident, I send my deepest and profound sympathises to the victims, their families, the government and people of Lagos State.”