Suspected militants blow up gas pipeline in Ogun

ABEOKUTA—SUSPECTED militants have blown up Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, pipelines at Ogijo in Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State, sending residents of the community scampering for safety after a loud explosion. we gathered that the explosion which occurred on Tuesday was believed to be the handywork of suspected militants who disguised as maintenance officials from the NNPC to blow up the gas pipeline around PZ Estate, in the area. According to source, the residents saw the suspected militants, but did not bother since they pretended to be officials of the NNPC who had come on routine maintenance checks. But the residents were shocked later at night after the hoodlums had left when a loud explosion occurred, shattering a section of the gas pipeline. It was gathered that the affected pipeline serve 11.4 distribution line for some companies in Ikorodu in Lagos. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the incident, but he said the state command had deployed its men to the area, saying “Some hoodlums on Tuesday went and burst a part of a gas pipeline around PZ Area in Ogijo. We heard that they came as if they were officials of a company in charge of the maintenance of the gas pipeline, and the residents were deceived by this ploy. “We don’t want to conclude yet that they were militants but we call them criminals, and we will get them wherever they are. The command has deployed men to the area, and we are working with other sister security agencies. The Divisional Police Officer, Ogijo, Mohammed Tijani, and his team are also there. The Lagos State police command has also deployed men on their side, in the area.” Adejobi, added that officials of the NNPC, were already carrying out repairs on the affected section of the gas pipeline. Similarly, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Ogun State Command, said its surveillance team Wednesday confirmed an explosion of a gas pipeline located around Ogijo. According to the Public Relations Officer of the Corps, Olanrewaju Kareem, the gas pipeline was a major line gas pipeline connected to Egbin through Oke-Iga/PZ Estate phase E in Ogijo, Sagamu Local government area of Ogun State. In another development, the Corps anti-vandal team had a serious encounter with some suspected Niger Delta boys around shimawa in Sagamu local government area of Ogun State. The incident happened at about 7:am yesterday while the Corps men were returning from patrol of petroleum pipeline around the area. They were to hand over to officers on morning duty who were already at NSCDC post located at Shimawa Sagamu axis.