The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s pipeline
located at Arepo, Ogun State exploded in the early morning of Wednesday.
located at Arepo, Ogun State exploded in the early morning of Wednesday.
The explosion occurred barely two
weeks after a similar incident in the area caused the death of more than 15
suspected vandals.
weeks after a similar incident in the area caused the death of more than 15
suspected vandals.
The Wednesday inferno was the fourth
time since September last year that fire, suspected to be caused by vandals,
had occurred in the area.
time since September last year that fire, suspected to be caused by vandals,
had occurred in the area.
There was scepticism as regards the
cause of Wednesday explosion, but one of our correspondents learnt that it was
caused by a gun duel between some suspected vandals and men of the Nigeria
Security and Civil Defence Corps.
cause of Wednesday explosion, but one of our correspondents learnt that it was
caused by a gun duel between some suspected vandals and men of the Nigeria
Security and Civil Defence Corps.
Assistant Commandant General, NSCDC
South-West zone, Mr. Oladapo Jacob, said the incident was surprising to the
corps.
South-West zone, Mr. Oladapo Jacob, said the incident was surprising to the
corps.
He said after the last incident, the
corps stationed its men both day and night to check the incessant vandalism of
the NNPC pipeline.
corps stationed its men both day and night to check the incessant vandalism of
the NNPC pipeline.
Jacob said, “Our men have been here
day and night since last December incident. Unfortunately, we were surprised
this morning when we heard the people were here about 3.30am.
day and night since last December incident. Unfortunately, we were surprised
this morning when we heard the people were here about 3.30am.
“About that time, our men heard a
gunshot from the pipeline area. They decided to go there to know what was
happening.
gunshot from the pipeline area. They decided to go there to know what was
happening.
“By the time our men got there, the
vandals engaged our men in a gun duel. They later flee into the water. The
immediate result was the fire.”
vandals engaged our men in a gun duel. They later flee into the water. The
immediate result was the fire.”
Jacob said the corps had a lot of
security challenges in the area, alleging that some residents were working in
connivance with the vandals.
security challenges in the area, alleging that some residents were working in
connivance with the vandals.
He also said the vandals had evolved
a more sophisticated approach to scooping fuel in Arepo, adding that instead of
jerrycans, which they usually used, they had introduced “rubbers” to deceive
security operatives.
a more sophisticated approach to scooping fuel in Arepo, adding that instead of
jerrycans, which they usually used, they had introduced “rubbers” to deceive
security operatives.
Jacob said, “The vandals have
developed another technology to steal fuel from pipeline. Instead of using
kegs, they are now using something called rubber. And the rubbers contain about
three kegs. By the time you see them on top of the river, you may be thinking
they are fishing; they are not.
developed another technology to steal fuel from pipeline. Instead of using
kegs, they are now using something called rubber. And the rubbers contain about
three kegs. By the time you see them on top of the river, you may be thinking
they are fishing; they are not.
“There are so many exit points
here because it is a creek. They call this place Arepo. There are other exit
points at Majidun and Ogolonto. If you chase them at Arepo, they go to the
other side and jump into the river,” he said.
here because it is a creek. They call this place Arepo. There are other exit
points at Majidun and Ogolonto. If you chase them at Arepo, they go to the
other side and jump into the river,” he said.
He said the panacea for the incessant
vandalism was for the Federal Government to build a bridge so that those exit
points could be fortified for better surveillance and security.
vandalism was for the Federal Government to build a bridge so that those exit
points could be fortified for better surveillance and security.
A resident of the area, Mr. Ngozi
Chukwu, said the regular explosion was giving the residents cause for concern.
Chukwu, said the regular explosion was giving the residents cause for concern.
“The Federal Government knows what to
do. It should intensify security here. In a creek area such as this, the
government should create a bridge to make petrol stealing difficult.
do. It should intensify security here. In a creek area such as this, the
government should create a bridge to make petrol stealing difficult.
“It is unfortunate that in the last
four months, explosion had taken place in this area four times. To live here
now is dangerous.”
four months, explosion had taken place in this area four times. To live here
now is dangerous.”
Another resident, who identified
himself simply as Keke, said, “How will people not scoop fuel to survive? In a
situation where there is unemployment, while a few people are feeding fat in Abuja,
why won’t you expect such a situation? For most of the vandals, they see the
pipelines as a place where their national cake is.”
himself simply as Keke, said, “How will people not scoop fuel to survive? In a
situation where there is unemployment, while a few people are feeding fat in Abuja,
why won’t you expect such a situation? For most of the vandals, they see the
pipelines as a place where their national cake is.”
NNPC officials, NSCDC men clash
Officials of the Nigeria National
Petroleum Corporation and the officers and men of NSCDC on Wednesday clashed at
the scene of the pipeline explosion which rocked the Arepo community.
Petroleum Corporation and the officers and men of NSCDC on Wednesday clashed at
the scene of the pipeline explosion which rocked the Arepo community.
While the fire billowed on
Arepo creek, the NNPC officials, who were dispatched to the scene of the fire,
engaged the NSCDC officials who wanted to join in the operation in a heated
argument for over 40 minutes.
Arepo creek, the NNPC officials, who were dispatched to the scene of the fire,
engaged the NSCDC officials who wanted to join in the operation in a heated
argument for over 40 minutes.
The NNPC had told NSCDC men on ground
that only mobile policemen would be allowed to provide them security while they
fixed the vandalised pipeline.
that only mobile policemen would be allowed to provide them security while they
fixed the vandalised pipeline.
The decision irked the NSCDC men who
insisted that it was their constitutional duty to investigate issues bearing on
vandalism as well as safeguard oil pipelines.
insisted that it was their constitutional duty to investigate issues bearing on
vandalism as well as safeguard oil pipelines.
As a result of this, many of the
armed NSCDC men and the gun totting mobile policemen exchanged words and abused
themselves while the ACG Jacob left the scene.
armed NSCDC men and the gun totting mobile policemen exchanged words and abused
themselves while the ACG Jacob left the scene.
One of the NNPC officials, who
declined to give his name said, “Only mobile policemen seconded to us from the
Police Force Headquarters will be allowed to conduct surveillance to check if
the explosion site is safe and to provide security. This is not a jamboree;
only the policemen would go in there with the boat.”
declined to give his name said, “Only mobile policemen seconded to us from the
Police Force Headquarters will be allowed to conduct surveillance to check if
the explosion site is safe and to provide security. This is not a jamboree;
only the policemen would go in there with the boat.”
However, the Zonal Information
Officer of the National Emergency Management Agency, South West, Mr. Ibrahim
Farinloye, who led a team to the scene, brokered peace between the warring factions
and three officials of NSCDC were allowed to join the boat.
Officer of the National Emergency Management Agency, South West, Mr. Ibrahim
Farinloye, who led a team to the scene, brokered peace between the warring factions
and three officials of NSCDC were allowed to join the boat.
Jacobs later said the scenario
was due to confusion usually associated with planning.
was due to confusion usually associated with planning.
Farinloye, however, lamented the
incessant fire explosion at the Arepo, adding that the exact spot that was
fixed two weeks ago when the creeks went up in flames was still the same point
that was vandalised.
incessant fire explosion at the Arepo, adding that the exact spot that was
fixed two weeks ago when the creeks went up in flames was still the same point
that was vandalised.
He said, “It is unfortunate that
between September2012 and now, we have witnessed four fire incidents at the
Arepo end of the NNPC Right of Way. We thank God there was no casualty and we
only have three points of fire on the creek.
between September2012 and now, we have witnessed four fire incidents at the
Arepo end of the NNPC Right of Way. We thank God there was no casualty and we
only have three points of fire on the creek.
“To put an end to these incessant
incidents, the community members must give us enough cooperation. The
traditional rulers must mobilise against vanadalism in this area.”
incidents, the community members must give us enough cooperation. The
traditional rulers must mobilise against vanadalism in this area.”
Source: Punch
