Eyewitnesses Say Wednesday Night Explosion At Apapa Was Caused By Bomb Blast

Scene of the explosion that rocked Apapa on Wednesday night
showing security men and a mangled remians of a vehicle
INSET: Police anti-bomb vehicles at the scene

Even though relevant security agencies have said that the blasts that rocked the port city of Apapa on Wednesday night were caused by two petroleum laden trucks that exploded, eyewitnesses vowed yesterday that they blasts actually occurred when a car in which a bomb was allegedly hidden went off.
Although security agents were still visible at the explosion site, some eyewitnesses claimed that, security agents only came in after the explosion had caused serious damages.
Those who spoke with our correspondents were emphatic that, the twin explosions were caused when  a private vehicle loaded with explosives detonated in front of a major petroleum tank farm; Folawiyo tank farm in Lagos.

They confirmed to Shipping Position Daily that it was a twin explosion carried out by "some ladies who dressed like Arabs who alighted from a Toyota Siena vehicle at about 8.30 pm" on Wednesday.

According to them, the first explosion was detonated by a young lady in front of Folawiyo depot while the second went-off directly in front of Enterprise bank, also close by.

Our correspondent noted that not less than five buildings on Creek road (the main artery into Apapa port) were affected in the explosion.

While recounting the ordeal, a female recharge card hawker explained  that:  "the Fulani girl eating at the canteen in front of the depot when her phone rang, immediately she stood up and tried to enter the tank farm, but she was denied access, that was when the first bomb exploded"

"The second explosion came from the Siena vehicle, it was parked beside a fire-proof gas truck thinking it was fully loaded with petrol, the vehicle went up in flames after it detonated its content" the witnesses told our correspondent.

Port operators who gathered round the scene of the explosion lamented to our correspondent that the ports are no longer save from insurgent attacks, even as they tasked the government to be proactive, especially in relocating petroleum tank farms from port areas.

An occupant of one of the buildings close to the explosion site, Mazi Joseph Anabaraonye told Shipping Position Daily that: "The intention was to create a deadly explosion but this was not to be, I believe they were specifically looking for a well crowded environment within the port where the casualty will be deadly"

Anabaraonye claimed to be in Apapa as at the time of the explosion, and that he was forced to take to his heels only to return yesterday afternoon.

Some of the buildings that were badly affected by the impact of the explosions included: Churchbell building, Premier Logistics building and Enterprise bank 

Meanwhile, the Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Mr Rasaq Fadipe, has appealed to residents to be calm over the explosion
Fadipe told newsmen yesterday in Lagos that the fire caused by the explosion had been put out.
He claimed that it was gas explosion and not a bomb blast as was claimed by some persons, and urged the residents to go about their businesses without fear.
Mr Ibrahim Forinloye, Southwest Spokesman, National Emergency Management Agency, said that the fire was put out by NEMA, the Lagos State Fire Service, and other companies within the Apapa area.
In his reaction, the Chief Executive Officer, Folawiyo Group, Mr Tunde Folawiyo, condemned the insinuation that five persons were killed in the incident.
He said that the explosion did not occur inside the depot, but at the Creek Road and Burma Road junction.
Folawiyo said that the authorities were investigating the matter and would soon come out with their findings.http://shippingposition.com.ng/article/eyewitnesses-say-wednesday-night-explosion-apapa-was-caused-bomb-blast