Fire guts illegal oil storage facility in Lagos

An illegal oil storage facility was on Tuesday gutted by fire in the Oregun area of Lagos State.

It was gathered that the incident which happened around 11am at Plot 10 Kudirat Abiola Way, Oregun, was caused by the activities of illegal oil bunkerers.

The premises had been used for illegal oil storage for several years.

Our correspondent learnt that 11 gallons of 1000 litres, 33 drums of 200 litres, three surface tanks of 10,000 litres, 25 drums of 200 litres filled with diesel, four buses were discovered at the scene of the fire.

Men of the Lagos State Fire Service, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, police, Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Corps, were drafted to the scene.

The Acting Head of the Lagos State Fire Service, Adeseye Margaret, said the agency traced a visible smoke from the Alausa Fire Station to the scene and discovered that some suspects were involved in illegal bunkering.

She said, “Preliminary investigation revealed that the fire is most likely to be caused by the activity of cooking as camp gas, stove and pots were found at the scene of the fire.

“Further investigation revealed that the nefarious activity is being carried out with 11 of 1000 litres gallons, 33 of 200 litres drums and 3 of 10,000 litres surface tanks while numerous numbers of other categories of gallons and drums were discovered in about four buses and minibuses.

“It was also discovered that the illegal activity is being carried out on an undeveloped expanse of open land which is over one acre which had been prevented from being consumed by the fire.”

She added that the security agencies are investigating the activities of the suspects.