Tears, anguish pervaded some parts of Lagos State yesterday as many residents watched their houses and properties destroyed by a massive explosion that rocked the state.
The Tide learnt that residents of Abule Ado, Amuwo, FESTAC, Satellite Town who were affected by the explosion that reverberated across the length and breadth of the area, were thrown into deep tension and confusion as they scampered for safety.
Initial information on some social media platforms indicated that the incident was caused by a pipeline explosion around Abule Ado in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of the state, but the National Emergency Agency (NEMA) has since refuted the reports.
Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Acting Coordinator of the Lagos territorial office of NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye, said the incident had no connection with pipeline explosion.
“From the information given by officials of the Lagos State Fire Service who are currently on ground, the implosion is not connected to pipeline but might have occurred in a factory located in the Abule Ado area,” he said.
Although the number of casualties was unknown as at the time of filing in this report, many families, according to eye witness accounts, were said to have become homeless, following the explosion.
Information reaching The Tide confirmed that students of Bethlehem Girls, a boarding school in Amuwo were seriously injured in the unfortunate incident.
A FESTAC resident who is a victim told newsmen that “the roof of our building is off and a nearby school is on fire”.
NEMA said over 50 buildings were destroyed in the explosion that rocked the suburb.
Farinloye disclosed that the cause of the incident and casualty figure were currently unknown as “rescue operations are still going on in the affected area”.
He said the resulting fire, from the explosion, later spread to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) oil pipeline passing through the area, adding that the pipeline had, however, been shut down as a precautionary measure.
According to him, a combined team of the Lagos State Fire Service, Federal Fire Service and the Nigerian Navy Fire Tender are currently battling to put out the inferno.

Boye Salau