AT least, 100 suspected vandals were yesterday roasted to death along Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipeline at Arepo in Ogun State.
One of the group leaders, whose identity was given simply as Killer, was said to have ordered the other groups to vacate the creeks, stating that he was the owner of the section they invaded.
Leaders of other groups reportedly told their boys to break another section of the pipeline, from where they began to siphon the product.
In the process according to speculation from the locals, a member of group allegedly fired a shot at the broken pipeline, resulting in an inferno.
This area, used to be guarded by Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), was abandoned because President Buhari administration revoked the contract. The job of guarding pipelines was given to militias by the former Jonathan administration.
As of this morning visitation, some vandals who survived the inferno, were battling to put out the fire while others moved bodies into canoes.
Confirming the tragedy, the new boss of the task force, CSP Valentine Olumese, who also visited scene, said the police will take over the protection of the area. “ The tent that was destroyed will be repaired and access to the scene will be created. Our men will maintain presence.”
He also assured that vandalization will be reduced to the barest minimum.
On the number of casualties, Olumese said he could not confirm the number.
Several of them were reportedly burnt beyond recognition, while some, who managed to swim to safety, sustained severe burns.
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