The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency said at least 17 persons have been confirmed dead and 25 others injured after a gas explosion ravaged the Abule-Ado area, near the International Trade Fair Complex, Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State on Sunday.

Properties running into billions of naira were affected with more than 50 buildings and several vehicles parked in the area  destroyed by the explosion, leaving hundreds of residents displaced.

Boarding pupils of the Bethlehem Girls College were trapped in the ruins of their hostel, as residents and sympathisers pulled them out of the rubble.

The Principal of the college, Rev. Sr. Henritta Alokha, lost her life while attempting to rescue the pupils.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation later said the explosion which occurred around 9am happened after a truck hit some gas cylinders in a gas processing plant.

The gas plant was located near the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s System 2B pipeline’s right of way.

The Public Affairs Officer of LASEMA, Nosa Okunbor, said there was a series of explosions, which started around 9.05am.

He stated, “The incident, which recorded 17 dead and 25 injured, destroyed property estimated to worth hundreds of millions of naira, with unquantifiable devastation to other assets, as well as the environment.

“Aside these, people in their hundreds have suddenly become displaced in an incident in which two LASEMA response teams, as well as the Lagos State Government Fire Service, the Rapid Response Squad of the Nigeria Police and other first responders were in full attendance.”

While quoting the Director-General of LASEMA, Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, he said the agency could not tell the primary cause of the incident.

“While security agents are investigating the cause of the explosion, recovery and rescue activities were carried out by the Ministry of Special Duties, LASEMA, men of the Lagos State Fire Service, the Federal Fire Service Department, the Lagos State Safety Commission, LASBCA and other first responders.

“Seventeen bodies have been recovered, while 25 injured persons are being treated on site,” he added.

Explosion Kills family of four in Lagos

The National Emergency Management Agency said it recovered 15 corpses, including a family of four.

The spokesperson for the South-West, Ibrahim Farinloye, said a couple and their two sons were among those who died in the explosion.

He said they were on their way to church when the incident happened.

According to him, no fewer than 60 pupils of the Bethlehem Girls College, who sustained varying degrees of injury, were taken to the Nigerian Navy Hospital in Satellite Town.

He stated, “The resulting fire later spread to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation oil pipeline passing through the area even though the pipeline has been shut down as a precautionary measure.

“The fire was eventually extinguished around 3.30pm through the combined efforts of officials of the Lagos State Fire Service, Federal Fire Service and the Nigerian Navy Fire Tender.”

The Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC, Kennie Obateru, explained that preliminary findings indicated that the impact of the explosion was so huge that it led to the collapse of nearby houses and damage to the pipeline.