Ijegun-Ikotun, the scene of Thursday's oil pipeline fire disaster that claimed many lives, has been sealed off, even as residents of the village have deserted the area for fear of their lives.

Yesterday, some armed soldiers and mobile policemen were seen keeping vigil at the area, while some of the residents fled with their luggage. One of them, who identified himself as Mr. Oladejo, said he was moving out because the fire might spread to his house "and I don't want to be roasted."

Others who spoke with LEADERSHIP WEEKEND said that they were temporarily relocating from their homes to enable firefighters put out the fire. "This place is not safe for now. I am moving away with my family to stay with a cousin at Satellite Town," Mr. Anibueze, a resident of the area, told LEADERSHIP WEEKEND.

Investigations at the Ikeja General Hospital Friday morning revealed that some victims of the disaster had been brought to the hospital. About 14 of the victims are currently receiving treatment at the emergency unit of the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS).

The chief medical director of LASUTH, Dr. Femi Olugbile, also confirmed that 15 bodies were received by the hospital. He disclosed that 14 others were receiving treatment in the hospital.

The public relations officer of LASUTH, Ms. Ajose, explained that 10 corpses were brought to the hospital from the scene of the disaster, while three died on the way to hospital and two died in the hospital. The 15 bodies were kept in the morgue of the hospital, she confirmed.

Acting commissioner of Police for Lagos State Marvel Akpoyibo, told LEADERSHIP WEEKEND at the scene of the incident yesterday morning that only 16 people died in the inferno. The Lagos State government also stated that 15 people had been confirmed dead in the pipeline fire disaster.

Deputy governor of the state, Mrs. Sarah Sosan, who paid a visit to the scene Friday morning, said an official report stated that 15 people died, while 17 were being treated in the hospital. She added that 15 others who received minor injuries had been treated and discharged.

Sosan said the fire was put out at about 2.45am Friday by a combined team of the Nigerian Navy and other disaster management agencies.

She assured Lagosians that the state government was on top of the situation and appealed to people to always make way when rescue operations are going on.

The commissioner for special duties, Dr. Tola Kasali, said the 17 people were receiving treatment at Lagos and Igando general hospitals, adding that the explosion occurred when an earth-moving vehicle working on the road struck the pipeline.

He said men of the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA) and other fire services came to the scene on time to battle the fire. He said the NNPC officials were contacted to cut off supply to the pipeline. This they did and it helped in putting out the fire. He also thanked the community for assisting the government in the rescue operation.

However, signs of palpable anxiety hung in the air as five persons, including two women were reported missing after the fire was put out.

A Red Cross officer, Mr. Kingsley Osuya, told our reporter that four people were missing and 66 others had lost their property worth several millions. Also, the chairman of Alimosho local government area, who visited the scene of the fire incident, said the local government would provide shelter for the affected persons.

One of the victims, Mrs. Shade Olarotimi, who lost her shop and a three-months' old baby boy to the fire, said nothing had been said by the various government agencies present at the scene.

An official of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), who pleaded anonymity, blamed the incident on the construction company, adding that adequate warning signs were in place to indicate that there was a pipeline underground. He wondered why people build shops and houses in such a dangerous area.