African News 3 die in Bayelsa pipeline explosion

Three oil workers died in the pipeline explosion – The pipeline belongs to Nigerian agip oil company

Three persons have lost their lives in a pipeline explosion that occurred on March 28 within Olugboboro area in Southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa state.

Vanguard reports that the victims who are workers with an oil servicing firm were clamping a leaking pipeline when the unfortunate incident happened. The affected pipeline is owned by Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC). Details later…. The Nation reports that explosion rocked a pipeline owned by the Nigeria Agip Oil Company in Brass local government area of Bayelsa state on January 28.

There was panic in the area following the incident as locals thought militants attacked the pipeline located along Orukari, Golubokiri and Kpongbokiri communities in Brass. A member representing Brass constituency 1 in the Bayelsa state House of Assembly, Isreal Sunny-Igoli, said preliminary investigations showed that it was an act of sabotage carried out to hurt the economic interests of the state and the whole country. In a related development, resident of Arepo area of Ogun state experienced apprehension on February 10, following an explosion which left about 16 suspected pipeline vandals dead. Officials of the Joint Task Force (JTF), ‘Operation Awase,’ attempted to clear the bush from Arepo to link the Ikorodu area of Lagos state which had always provided a hiding place for the vandals. The vandals reportedly got wind of the planned operation and laid ambush for the officials.