The ruptured pipeline was owned by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and caused damage to several homes when it burst into flames Thursday, the Nigerian newspaper Thisday reported.

It is reported many of the people killed in the incident were children.

"I cannot say categorically the cause of the fire but I was told by some of the people here that Lagos State Government is carrying on the dredging of the area and that one of the tractors being used mistakenly hit the pipeline, which resulted in the inferno," said Deacon Timothy Oladele, chairman of the Red Cross Society, Lagos State Branch.

The Lagos Police Command spokesman Frank Mba said forces were sent to the scene to aid in rescue efforts as officials work to confirm the death toll, the Guardian reported.