News
Pipeline vandalism: Fuel litters Lagos community, sacks residents
Several residents of Omoboriowo Street at Pipeline bus stop, Igando-Ikotun Road, Lagos and its environs were temporarily displaced on Friday after suspected pipeline vandalism in the area went awry.
Petrol gushed out from the vandalised pipeline of Atlas Cove-Mosimi System 2B Pipeline channel around 1am, flooding houses and drainage channels, forcing dwellers to flee their homes at night.
City Round learnt that the fuel spilled heavily to neighouring areas including Old Garage at Ikotun Junction, New Garage Ikotun Junction, Ikotun Market and Igando/Ikotun Local Council Development Area.
It took hours of combined efforts of officials of the Lagos State Fire Service, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, National Emergency Management Agency, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, among others, to restore normalcy.
Many commuters were stranded and had to resort to trekking as vehicular movement was restricted along the corridor to avoid possible fire outbreak while residents ran to safety amid fears of an imminent explosion.
“All of us ran to Bolorunpelu (a neighbouring bus stop),” a woman, Beatrice Akinwumi, said of how she and her family members escaped. “Some people have fled to Mushin. Fuel was gushing into our compounds. It flooded all the premises. We all ran out at night.”
Another resident, who identified himself as Rafiu, said the smell of the fuel was so pungent that it almost choked his children.
He lamented that pipeline vandalism had become a recurring incident in the Igando area, urging the government to be proactive to avert tragedies.
He stated, “Everybody ran out of their room in the night. The smell of the fuel almost choked up my children. We couldn’t talk. I trekked from here to Iyana Ejigbo before I couldn’t perceive the smell again. It was God who saved us.
“It (pipeline vandalism) has been happening constantly in this community since last year. There was a time the vandals abandoned their tankers and pumping machine at a spot and ran away. One happened just last month.”
Commercial activities were also paralysed for several hours as fuel flowed into many parts of Ikotun Market.
“There is a lot of fuel inside the market. Nobody could open their shop. It has reduced a bit now (at 10am). It was really much at night. We have been in fear since 1am. We are not safe,” a trader, Afusat Babajide, said.
LASEMA General Manager, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, in a situation report, said a preliminary investigation by the agency showed that the spillage was caused by suspected pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering.
He stated that emergency responders warned the entire community to avoid any open flame in order to avert any explosion.
He said, “Upon arrival at the scene, it was observed that a very large volume of PMS was gushing out of the NNPC pipeline at the aforementioned location. It was flowing heavily in the drainage channels connecting Omoboriowo Street, Old Garage Ikotun Junction, New Garage Ikotun Junction, Ikotun Market, Igando/Ikotun LCDA and Synagogue Church.”
The leakage on the pipeline was fixed around 11am by officials of the NNPC Maintenance while the affected area was dampened to suppress the fuel.
Director, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Mrs Adeseye Margaret, said the agency mobilised firefighters from Abesesan Fire Station to the scene after receiving a distress call at 2.24am.
“On getting there, it was discovered that PMS was gushing out from the pipeline and contents had travelled through drainage and available means to Igando/Idimu Road and environs of Alimosho, Lagos,” she added.
Acting Zonal Coordinator, South-West Zonal Office of NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye, said the agency appealed to traders not to open the market for operations on Friday.
He added, “Repairs of the vandalised pipeline had been completed but the content had spread far to other areas through drainage channels. We are appealing to residents of the affected areas to desist from using any flammable light of whatever nature to prevent explosion. The spilled content in the drainage channels was traced up to Ikotun.”
PUNCH.
By Okey Maduforo Awka
Six members of the Indigenous People Of Biafra IPOB have been declared wanted by the Nigerian Police .
The six persons led by Mr Chukwuebuka Ohaechesi, include Emma Okonkwo, Jude Uwa, Gentle Okoro, Uchenna Dike, and Emmanuel Nwankwo who are said to be at large.
The were said to have fled to neighboring states in the South East hence signaling the other four Police Commands in the geopolitical zone to assist in the manhunt for them
The Police accused them of executing protests against the detaintion of the leader of IPOB Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who is currently serving jail terms in Sokoto Correction Center.
According to a statement issued by the Abia Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, ASP Eguavon Omokaro, the individuals are suspected members of IPOB who have allegedly participated in protests at various times and locations within the state.
The statement alleged that the protests were organised in connection with the continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and demands for justice through the judicial process.
The Police Command further stated that these protests have allegedly resulted in breaches of peace and disruptions to law and order in Abia State. Consequently, the Police Intelligence Department reportedly concluded that the named individuals were among the principal organisers and coordinators of the demonstrations.
The statement further alleged that; ;
“It should be noted that on every 30th day of May, these men and their cohorts convene for the so-called remembrance of Biafra, holding clandestine meetings at various locations in the name of the emancipation of the Biafran Republic and the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.”
According to the police, the six individuals were invited on several occasions for questioning in relation to the allegations against them.
The statement indicated that the first invitation was issued on 18 December 2025, followed by a second invitation on 7 February 2026, and a third invitation on 3 March 2026.
The police alleged that the individuals failed to honour all three invitations.
The statement further asserted:
“These individuals were invited by the police on several occasions. Firstly, on 18 December 2025, they failed to honour the invitation. Again, they were invited on 7th February 2026 and failed to appear. Finally, they were invited on 3 March 2026, and they also failed to present themselves before the police.” It stated.
As a result, the Abia State Police Command announced that all six individuals had been formally declared wanted.
The police appealed to members of the public to provide any reliable information that could lead to their arrest and prosecution, stating that informants would be suitably rewarded.
The declaration of the six individuals as wanted persons is linked to allegations of their participation in pro-Biafra activities, demonstrations concerning the detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and their alleged association with IPOB, an organisation that has been the subject of extensive scrutiny and security operations by Nigerian authorities.
In a statement shared on social media, VeryDarkMan argued that Wike may not fully understand the pain and trauma experienced by parents of abducted children and affected teachers. He claimed that the minister’s children were educated abroad, away from the security challenges facing many Nigerian families.Nigerian entertainment news
The activist stated that insecurity, kidnapping, and attacks on schools remain serious national concerns and should not be dismissed or reduced to political issues. He stressed that the fears and frustrations of parents whose children face security threats deserve greater attention from public officials.
VeryDarkMan further warned that political power is temporary, urging leaders to remain accountable to the people and sensitive to the challenges confronting ordinary Nigerians.
DSS Detains Novelist Okey Ndibe at Lagos Airport, Awaits Clearance from Abuja
Renowned Nigerian novelist, journalist, and academic, Okey Ndibe, was reportedly detained by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) upon his arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Monday morning.
Ndibe disclosed his situation in a message sent while in custody, stating: “I’ve been with the SSS now for more than an hour. They’re waiting for clearance from some oga before they let me go.”
According to sources close to the writer, his detention follows a pattern that dates back to previous administrations, including that of former President Goodluck Jonathan, during which he was frequently stopped and questioned over his critical commentaries on Nigerian governance and public affairs.
However, associates noted that Ndibe has largely stepped away from active commentary in Nigerian media over the past two years, focusing instead on writing books and his academic responsibilities at University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he teaches.
A close friend of the author and former Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C. Don Adinuba, said similar incidents had occurred several times in the past. He explained that airport DSS officials typically contacted their superiors in Abuja before eventually releasing Ndibe.
“It is a pity that this agency doesn’t update its database to enable officers on duty at the airport to know that the agency no longer regards Prof. Ndibe as a security threat to the administration,” Adinuba said.
He added that on previous occasions, the DSS had apologized to the respected author after determining that his detention was unwarranted.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official statement from the DSS regarding the circumstances surrounding Ndibe’s latest detention. The development has raised renewed concerns about the treatment of government critics and the continued use of security watchlists affecting returning Nigerians.
Hegseth made the disclosure during a press conference at the White House on Wednesday, where he said the directive was issued about a year ago after Trump became aware of attacks against Christians in Nigeria.
He explained that the operation involved behind-the-scenes coordination and deployment of military assets, adding that intelligence gathered during the mission contributed to the killing of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, identified as ISIS’s second-in-command, during a joint operation involving U.S. and Nigerian forces in the Lake Chad Basin.
“Maybe a year ago, he heard the call of Nigerian Christians who were being targeted and killed by ISIS in Nigeria, and he said, ‘Pete, I want the War Department to focus on ensuring that we do everything we can to protect those Christians,’” Hegseth said.
According to him, the operation yielded significant results in the fight against terrorism in the region.
“And we got the assets there, and over the last month, and there hasn’t been much coverage of this, we killed ISIS number two in Nigeria, who’s most responsible for killing Christians and trying to target the U.S. homeland,” he stated.
Hegseth added that working on the Intel gathered, they have killed hundreds of ISIS members who were targeting and killing Christians in Nigeria.
The U.S. defence chief described the operation as part of the Trump administration’s broader commitment to counterterrorism efforts and the protection of vulnerable communities.
“So there are a lot of things we do that the media pays attention to, and a lot of things that the President empowers the Department to do on behalf of the American people that he deserves great credit for,” Hegseth stated.
ISIS second in command, Abu-Bilal al-Minuki was killed in a coordinated U.S.-Nigeria military operation in northeast Nigeria earlier this month.
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