Pipeline explosion: Residents blame NSCDC officers, claim they were busy drinking beer

Following Sunday's pipeline explosion at the Abule Egba area of Lagos, residents have blamed officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for the disaster.

Speaking with newsmen at the scene of the inferno on Monday morning, the residents pointed out the ignorance of the officials and added that if the officers had responded quickly to the report of the spillage, the disaster would have been averted.

No fewer than five people have been confirmed dead in the explosion reportedly caused by the activities of vandals, who ruptured the pipeline belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in the area in a bid to steal fuel.

According to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) 20 people sustained minor injuries, 39 vehicles were burnt and over 150 people have been displaced by the explosion.

Speaking in an interview with WuzupNigeria, one of the angry residents who refused to mention his name, said when the pipeline started spilling its content some of them ran to the NSCDC post in the area, but the officers on duty turned deaf ears to his complaints.

“I ran to the civil defence to inform them so they can call Mosimi (NNPC office) to lock up the pipeline, I met them drinking beer there, it took 43 minutes 34 seconds before the pipeline exploded

“We call all the fire service men no one responded, they arrived two hours after the fire started burning and when they came the fire was uncontrollable, they could not near it.”

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