The Lagos State Government has offered more insight into the deadly fire that ravaged Ijegun area of Lagos state in the early hours of Thursday.
The fire incident occurred along the NNPC pipeline at Ijegun on Thursday, 4th July, 2019 at around 5 a.m.
The LASEMA Response Team reported that the inferno was as a result of activities of pipeline vandals who were engaged in bunkering.
LASEMA says it gathered that the vandals had already siphoned petrol into a 33, 000 litre tanker.
And while a second tanker of the same capacity was being loaded, security agencies suddenly intercepted them.
READ: GRAPHIC WARNING: Dozens killed as pipeline explodes in Ijegun, Lagos
“Subsequently, while trying to escape from the security agencies, some of the siphoned fuel spilled into the drainage and the vandals were alleged to have set the spilled fuel on fire in a bid to prevent the security agencies from apprehending them.
“Thereafter, the fire spread back to the point where the vandals had siphoned the fuel causing explosion which escalated the fire.
As at the time of writing this report, two casualties were recorded and over 30 vehicles burnt.
LASEMA says the actual loss will be determined upon conducting post disaster enumeration after the fire has been put out.
Others who quickly responded at the scene include LASG Fire Service, NSCDC and police.
