Explosion rocks Atlas Cove

An explosion in the early hours of yesterday devastated the Akinbo
Jetty of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) facility at
the Atlas Cove in the Ilado area of Lagos, destroying three boats
suspected to be owned by some vandals.
Witnesses told Daily Sun that the incident, which occurred at about
4a.m yesterday was as a result of the activities of some suspected
pipelines vandals, who had attempted to siphon products from the NNPC
pipelines in that area. The Spokesman for the Western Naval Command,
Lieutenant Commander Jerry Omodara said no life was lost as the
vandals fled on sensing danger.
Daily Sun also gathered from witnesses at the scene of the incident
that no injury was recorded as officials of the NigerianNavy, the NNPC
and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the fire services
were promptly at the sceneto secure the pipeline.
Daily Sun learnt that the fleeing vandals left behind over 200 loaded
jerrycans when the pipeline valve exploded. Confirming the incident,
the Spokesperson, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA),
South-West, Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, said, "Rescue efforts from NNPC and
other specialised agencies were prompt and the agencies were able to
put out the fire, which started around 4a.m but was put out by the
NNPC special team.
"The fire did not start from the main pipeline, rather the valves
supplying the product was what exploded. The first batch of ourteam
reached there around 7.30am and the fire was finally put out at the
Akinbo Jetty of Atlas Cove around 10.48 am.
"Cooling and pegging process have commenced and it is not a barge but
vandalism of NNPC pipeline against earlier information that a barge
exploded. About 200 jerrycan of 50 litres were recovered as well as
three burning boats of the vandals."
Lieutenant Commander Omodara of the Nigerian Navy, confirmed the
incident but stressed that there was no casualty as claimed. He said:
"The situation has been brought under control and I spoke with the
Commander NNS Beecroft, Commodore Chris Ezekobe and he confirmed that
he had already deployed some officers to the area to access the level
of the explosion.
"Contrary to speculations, there was no casualty but at the moment, we
are yet to identify the chief cause of the explosion but it happened
around the police post area in Atlas Cove."
He added: "The fire started at about 4a.m and burnt till about 10a.m
and preliminary investigations revealed that vandals broke the
pipeline valve to siphon the products when it exploded.
"The explosion aborted their attempt to steal some products and they
disappeared before rescue team comprising NEMA, Police, NEMA and other
security agencies came."