The Baale of Ijeododo Community in Lagos State, Alhaji Tajudeen Subair-Ododo, on Friday, alleged that vandals caused the pipeline explosion that occurred in his community on Thursday night.

He said that oftentimes, vandals cashed in on the loose security arrangement to feast on the pipeline.

Subair-Ododo, who spoke in Lagos, said the only way to curb incessant pipeline vandalism around the community is for the federal government to beef up security with a view to closely monitoring the pipeline network in every second.

Public Affairs Officer of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, also shared the view of the Baale, confirming the vandals encroached into the NNPC’s Right Of Way (ROW) and Safety Unit.

Farinloye said that though no causality was recorded, supply of products has been shut down.

News Express investigations revealed that between Atlas Cove and the Mosimi Depot, a total of 182 breakage points had been recorded.

Also, between the Mosimi depot and the Ibadan, Oyo State depot, a total of 421 rupture points had been recorded just as 50 vandalised points recorded between Mosimi to Ore in Ondo State.