PRESIDENT OLUSEGUN OBASANJO ORDERED SECURITY SERVICES TO STEP UP PROTECTION OF NIGERIA'S PIPELINES AFTER A GAS CONDUIT EXPLODED, KILLING UP TO 200 PEOPLE, STATE RADIO SAID SATURDAY. OBASANJO DESCRIBED THE BURNING OF SCORES OF VILLAGERS AS THEY GATHERED FREE FUEL FROM THE PIPELINE AS «GRAVE» AND ORDERED AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE CAUSE OF THE BLAST, RADIO NIGERIA SAID. GASOLINE GUSHING FROM THE PIPELINE EXPLODED AS VILLAGERS SCAVENGED FOR THE FUEL, SETTING OFF AN INFERNO THAT KILLED UP TO 200 PEOPLE. IT APPEARED SOME VICTIMS TRIED TO FLEE THE UNFOLDING DISASTER ONLY TO BE OVERTAKEN BY FLAMES SPREADING ACROSS THE FUEL SLICK.