Suspected oil thieves vandilise, burn Agip pipeline in Rivers

Hoodlums suspected to be crude oil thieves have allegedly vandalised a crude oil pipeline belonging to Agip Oil Company, setting it ablaze afterward.

The inferno along the Agip oil pipeline located at Ubeta in Ahoada west local government area of Rivers state reportedly ignited by suspected thieves has however been brought under control.

According to an eyewitness account, the inferno which started in the early hours of Friday was finally put off Sunday by a team of firefighters deployed to the area.​

Blueprint gathered that when a team from Government Regulatory Agencies (NOSDRA), Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Rivers State Ministry of Environment​ and community representatives arrived the scene of the incident to ascertain the cause of the inferno they discovered that the inferno was as a result of a third-party interference.

Sources from the community confirmed that the fire was ignited by activities of crude oil thieves who were involved in illegal crude oil bunkering in the area.

“An illegal bunkering point was found on the pipeline at the point of the fire and it was repaired”, a source who spoke on condition of anonymity told correspondents

Some residents who also spoke condition of anonymity said the area is prone to illegal oil bunkering activities, such as pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering, a development they said is responsible for insecurity in the area.

           

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