On July 10, 2000, over 100 people were burnt to death yesterday in Adeje and Oviri-Court villages following the explosion of a damaged gasoline pipeline.
The blast occurred near a ruptured section of pipeline that ran between the two communities in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to eyewitnesses, residents had gathered around the leaking pipe to scoop fuel when it ignited.
“We heard a loud boom, and within seconds the entire area was engulfed in fire,” said Chief Monday Okoro of Adeje. “Many could not run. The fire spread too fast through the crowd.”
Emergency responders from nearby towns arrived hours later, but most of the victims had already been killed at the scene.
Local health officials reported that the death toll stood at over 100 as of late Sunday, with several others sustaining severe burns.
Security personnel have cordoned off the area, and officials from the pipeline operator are expected to begin investigations into the cause of the rupture. Preliminary accounts suggest the pipe had been damaged prior to the incident.
July 10: Four Students Killed in Overnight Attack at Obafemi Awolowo University
On July 10, 2000, four students of Obafemi Awolowo University were killed by gunmen who attacked a hostel in the early hours.
The attack occurred around 1:30 a.m. at Awolowo Hall, one of the male residential halls on the Ile-Ife campus.
According to witnesses, armed men forced their way into a room and opened fire on sleeping students before escaping into the darkness.
The victims were identified as Evwede Islao Ilenre, a 200-level Geology student; Godfrey Okolie, a 100-level Chemistry student; Yemi Oyetunji, a 200-level Sociology student; and Edward Oreoluwa, a 200-level Geology student.
Several others sustained injuries and were taken to the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex for treatment.
“The campus is in shock,” said a student leader who asked not to be named. “We were not expecting this. Lectures have been suspended and students are leaving the halls.”
The Osun State Police Command said investigations had begun and that security had been reinforced across the university.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Rogers Makanjuola, described the killings as “senseless and tragic” and appealed for calm while urging students to cooperate with law enforcement.
Student bodies across the country condemned the attack and called for better campus security and urgent action to address cult-related violence in tertiary institutions.
