Director General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Dr. Ade Abolurin Thursday visited the scene of Wednesday explosion in Arepo, Ogun State accusing the community of aiding vandals who operate in the area.
The commandant who took a walk round the community discovered that pipes were laid from various houses to the stream where the NNPC pipelines are laid.
According to him, a good example is a storey building located at Frank Ogbor Close, where a pipe was laid from the compound to the stream. He said vandals use most of the structures as cover to siphon petroleum products from the NNPC pipelines.
Although, no resident was found in the building and the pipes was razes as a result of the explosion, Abolurin said there were indications that vandals are hiding inside the uncompleted building to carry out their illegalities especially at nights.
He said, some house owners in the community have contravened the law by erecting structures in a pipeline prone area; not minding warnings from government that the place is a danger zone.
“Structures are not supposed to be erected around here; but as you can see, they even build their houses very close to the pipeline zones. Some of the houses are not yet occupied but there are indications that the vandals come during the night to carry out their nefarious activities, using the buildings as cover.
“As you can see, the NNPC has erected a sign board long time ago warning people of the dangers associating with erecting structures close to NNPC pipelines. But, the sign board had been pulled down and relocated; while residents have encroached the pipeline areas.”
Abolurin, thereby enjoined residents to cooperate with NSCDC by exposing the vandals saying there was no way the vandals could operate without the knowledge of the residents.
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