Panic In Bayelsa As Man Attempts To Set NNPC Mega Station, Church Ablaze

There was pandemonium on Thursday in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, following a failed attempt by a 45-year-old man to set the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)'s mega filling station and the provincial headquarters of the Redeemed Christian of Church God in the stat ablaze.


The man, who was suspected to be deranged and identified as indigene of Emede town in Isoko area of Delta state, police discovered, was also in possession of pictures of prominent indigenes of the state, some kilograms of Canabis and powder substance identified as cocaine during a search carried out at a public bus-stop used as home by the man.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the deranged man popularly known along the Sani Abacha Expressway as "Professor" on Tuesday set fire to the tire of one of the NNPC Oil tankers that supplied petroleum product to the mega filling station.

According to an eyewitness account, the deranged man at about 11am, gathered plastics and cartons to make fire and push it under the oil tanker loaded with 33,000 litres of petroleum products.

"Six fuel tankers were lined up, waiting to discharge products at the mega filling station. Before we knew it, we saw thick smoke and fire engulfing the tire of the oil tanker."

LEADERSHIP gathered that commuters, drivers, roadside hawkers, station attendants and members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God took to their heels in fear of a possible oil tanker explosion.

But some bold passers-by and drivers launched a rescue to put out the fire that had engulfed some part of the fuel tanker.

It was gathered that after setting the fire, the deranged man took to his heel and boarded a tricycle popularly known as Keke NAPEP, but was chased and caught by a concerned citizen.

Attempts by the angry crowd to set him ablaze was stopped by the quick arrival of the men of the Special police patrol team known as Door Akpor.

When contacted, the spokesman of the Bayelsa State Police Command, Mr. Alex Akhigbe, confirmed the arrest of the culprit, saying investigation was ongoing."