Over 50 feared dead in Nigeria pipeline explosion
14 January 2013
Over 50 people are reported to have been killed in an attempt to siphon fuel from a Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipeline at Arepo village in Ogun State, Nigeria, on January 12. The pipeline supplies petrol from Atlas Cove Jetty in Lagos to other locations in South-West Nigeria.
NNPC had to shut the pipeline, potentially causing series shortages across the region.
According to the Sunday Vanguard, the explosion was caused by a bullet striking the ruptured pipeline after an argument between two of the ‘vandals’ attempting to siphon the petrol led to one opening fire with a rifle.
Members of the Anti-Pipeline Vandalism Unit of the Police Special Task Force responded to the explosion and arrested a number of the survivors, including one who is reported to have participated in the killing of three NNPC officials last year in Arepo village.
Other survivors were reported to have escaped by boat through the maze of creeks and waterways near the village.
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