Explosion kills 12 oil workers in Southern Nigeria
At least 12 persons suspected to be oil workers have been burnt to death in a pipeline explosion in Azuzuama in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, South-south Nigeria, reports TVC News.
It was also gathered that three unidentified persons were injured in the explosion, which occurred on Thursday night along the Tebidaba-Azuzuama trunk line belonging to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company.
Sources said the explosion took place at an oil spill site operated by Agip where a joint investigation visit was ongoing.
Meanwhile,it was gathered that officials of Agip, representatives of the host community and Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment were investigating the cause of a recent oil spill in the area.
In a statement issued by an Eni spokesperson, Filipo Cotalini, the parent company of NAOC, the cause of the explosion is being investigated.
“An explosion occurred on Thursday, July 9, 2015, late afternoon, at the site of the repair works of the Tebidaba-Clough Creek line, an oil pipeline in Nigeria’s onshore Niger Delta, previously damaged by acts of sabotage,” Cotalini said.
“The explosion resulted in the death of 12 members of the maintenance team of a local service company, with three others being injured.
“The causes of the incident are still under investigation by both Eni and the local authorities.
“The company expresses its deepest condolences to the families involved in this tragic accident.”
On the contrary, community sources said the explosion occurred during a joint investigation visit for the official clamping of a spillage site along the route of the Agip pipeline.
They said the victims of the explosion were burnt beyond recognition.