Residents of Arepo area of Ogun
state experienced some moments of panic on Wednesday, February 10,
following an explosion which left about 16 suspected pipeline vandals
dead.
Men of the
Joint Task Force (JTF), ‘Operation Awase,’ reportedly attempted to clear the
bush from Arepo to link the Ikorodu area of Lagos state which had always
provided a hiding place for the vandals, thereby, flushing out the vandals.
However,
the vandals were said to have laid ambush for the officials following a
tip-off. They reportedly went ahead of the officers and poured petrol on the
path the officers were to take.
The Punch
reports that as the military men moved in to start their operation, they were
not aware that the vandals were already spying on them and watching their
movement.
“It was another set of vandals
that went to set the path on fire.
“These
vandals did not know the extent to which the first group poured petrol and they
had unknowingly entered into part of the place.
“As they
threw the firebomb at the military men, the fire consumed them. About 16 of
them died,” a source disclosed to newsmen.
Witnesses
say they saw officers taking some corpses out of the creek.
“I cannot count the number of
casualties, but they were many. There were three military vehicles. The fight
between the military and the vandals is on a daily basis and we have not been
having peace in this community. We are always afraid,” said an anonymous witness.
Meanwhile,
spokesperson for the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Ohi Alegbe,
confirmed the incident saying: “The vandals again broke into the system.
We are working on putting out the fire.”
Also, a
top official of the JTF who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that
there was an explosion, but said he could not tell how many people were killed.
“I was
told that the NNPC officials were already there and they said they had been
trying to put out the fire without any result. They are still on it,” he added.
Rear
Admiral Ralph Osondu, the flag officer commanding Western naval command, said
he didn’t have the authority to comment on the incident.
In a similar report, the Nigerian military said it has arrested
the mastermind behind the Agip pipeline bombing in Bayelsa state. Spokesman for
Operation Pulo Shield, Colonel Isa Ado, said one Prince
Alvin Cockman Oyegun (AKA Commander Abula) had been arrested for masterminding the bombing of the Agip
pipeline in the Brass Local Government Area.