Hundreds dead in Nigerian oil explosion

At least 260 people have died after an oil pipeline in Lagos was sabotaged in yet another attack on Nigeria's fuel supply network.

The blast occurred as locals gathered to siphon off oil after a pipe in the city's Abule Egba region was vandalised.

In addition to the dead, approximately 60 people were injured, according to the Nigerian Red Cross, but medics are concerned that many will not come forward for fear of being punished for attempting to steal the leaking oil.

Offering his condolences, UN secretary General Kofi Annan said that the UN would help out local aid agencies immediately to prevent more widespread attacks and risk of disease.

He also claimed that a review of Nigeria's fuel supply management was needed, "as well as a thorough regional review of risks that could lead to other environmental or technological disasters in west Africa".

Explosions due to criminal activity are becoming commonplace in the Niger Delta: on December 18th two bombs exploded, one at a Shell residential compound in Port Harcourt on the riverside.

This incident followed the kidnapping of 21 British nationals earlier this year.