The pressure a truck mounted on the pipeline overnight made the product in it to forcefully rupture and form a grey cloud that later exploded, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said on Monday.
Southwest Coordinator of NEMA Ibrahim Farinloye said this explanation was given by security operatives during a meeting with the Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat at the scene of the incident.
He said contrary to fears that the explosions were caused by bomb blast or Improvised Explosives Devices (IED), preliminary security analysis showed that it was too much pressure exerted on the pipeline by the over eight-tons truck laden with core stone.
The NEMA boss also ruled out insinuations that the gas plant was responsible for the explosion, explaining that it was fuel that escaped the pipeline that saturated in the atmosphere, formed a whitish substance that exploded.
According to Farinloye, the truck stayed on the pipeline overnight and exerted too much pressure on the pipeline.
He said the effect of the explosion was massive because the entire area is swampy which resulted to sinking of some of the structures.
Similarly, Commissioner of Police (CP) in charge of the Explosives Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Maikudi Shehu told our Correspondent that there was no presence of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at the scene, adding that his men were still conducting investigations from samples collected.
“I can tell you that there was no IED there. The blast was not caused by IED. I am still expecting report of findings from my officers to know exactly what happened,” he said.
Farinloye also confirmed the recovery of three more dead bodies from the school premises around 1:15pm, two of which have been identified ad chiefs.
With these recoveries, the number of deceased persons have increased to 20 following figures released by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Sunday night.
Farinloye said the committee set up by Governor Babjide Sanwo-Olu has directed the Ministry of Education to cater to the pupils, while registration of displaced residents had commenced.
“We have commenced post disaster Management. You can see people registering here. We are itemising losses incurred but human and material. We have released five numbers for people to report cases of missing persons, volunteer useful information.
“The Police will do necessary things to get the truck driver who we heard was still alive. Explosion had no relationship with gas. Pressure forced it out,” he said.
Residents claimed the truck which was moving into the street to a construction site got stuck on the pipeline overnight and exerted its weight there.
“The truck stayed there for so long and with its weight on the pipeline, the fuel in the pipe which is about eight-foot deep was trying to force it’s way out. That was how a smoke-like substance started forming from under the truck and soon developed into a cloud that covered the entire area and then the blast,” said a man who claimed to be an Engineer.
Police spokesman Bala Elkana said the Commissioner Hakeem Odumosu visited the scene to assess situation and ensure there was adequate security presence. He said there was no breach of security at the scene, adding that no arrests were made.
