Death toll rises to 12 in Nigeria pipeline explosion

LAGOS -- The death toll of a pipeline explosion at Ijegun, a suburb in Lagos, Nigeria's economic hub has risen to 12, an official said on Monday.

The tragedy occurred last Thursday after some vandals tried to escape with a tanker which they used for the theft of petroleum products from the petroleum product pipeline.

Two people were confirmed dead earlier.

Titilayo Goncalves, permanent secretary in the state ministry of health, told reporters in Lagos that another 10 victims of the Thursday Ijegun pipeline explosion died in hospitals due to severe and high degree burns suffered from the inferno.

"Unfortunately, due to the high degree of burns suffered by these victims which is almost at 100 percent, we lost 10 of them," she said.

She assured that the survivors were receiving adequate and quality care at the designated government facilities free of charge.

According to reports by local media, vehicles, houses and property worth millions of Naira were burnt in the pipeline explosion.

Oil pipeline vandalization is frequently reported in Nigeria. The vandalization is attributed to lack of jobs and poverty.