Scores of residents of Ikotun, Ojegun and Igando in Lagos State have vacated their homes over petrol spillage from a ruptured pipeline in the area.

The spillage is from a section of the pipeline belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which runs from Atlas Cove, via Satellite and FESTAC towns to Ejigbo, and Mosemi in Lagos and Ogun states.

Our correspondent learnt from residents that vandals have been scooping petroleum products from some ruptured pipes.

One of the residents, John Agaguonye, alleged that scores of vandals returned to the area some weeks ago, after they were cleared by security agents.

He said the big-time pipeline vandals had been scooping petroleum products into trucks and ferrying the products to unknown destination, while the smaller ones fill up several plastic jerricans which they sell along the road.

Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in the South-West Region, Ibrahim Farinloye, appealed to traders at the popular market in Ikotun not to open their shops for business on Friday and that security agents should also ensure restriction of movements around Ikotun, Igando and other sensitive areas where the spilled content of the vandalised pipeline is noticed.

(Daily Trust)

•NEMA

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