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NNPC pipeline explodes again at Arepo

By on January 24, 2013

Just less than a week after the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) conducted repairs on a damaged pipeline in Arepo village, Ogun State owing to nefarious activities of some vandals, another explosion has hit the sensitive supply point for petroleum products in the South Western Nigeria.

This is the fourth time since September that an explosion will occur in the now notorious area as a result of the activities of pipeline vandals, and is generating a lot of heated argument especially between the NNPC and the host Ogun State Government.

An eye witness confirmed that the explosion might have been connected to an exchange of gun fire between members of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Outfit and pipeline vandals in the area.

Assistant Commandant General, NSCDC South West Zone , Mr Oladapo Jacob expressed shock at the incident and 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”.

Meanwhile when the NNPC officials arrived at the scene to work on the damaged pipeline, there was heated argument between them and the NSCDC officials over the issue of security in the area. While the Civil Defense Corps stated that it was their right to protect the NNPC installations, the NNPC officials said they would work only with the Mobile Police formation sent to secure them, while doing their Job.

It will be recalled that in the last visit to the scene of the last explosion and disaster at the Arepo Village, Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State blamed the recurrent crisis in the area on inadequate security from the Federal Government .