NNPC Pipelines In Arepo, Ogun Is On Fire- As Gun battle sets off fresh pipeline fire

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The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s pipeline 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.

The Wednesday inferno was the fourth 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.

Assistant Commandant General, NSCDC 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.

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.

“About that time, our men heard a 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.”

Jacob said the corps had a lot of 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.

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.

 “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.

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.

A resident of the area, Mr. Ngozi 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.

“It is unfortunate that in the last 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.”

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