Effurun pipeline explodes again, destroys cars, shops

Pipeline belonging to the Nigeria National Petroleum
Corporation (NNPC), exploded at Mechanic Village in
Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta
State, on Friday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that
this is coming barely two weeks after the same
pipeline exploded and burnt the Mammy market
close to the 3 Battalion, Effurun.
Some eyewitnesses said the explosion occurred
as a result of spillage from the corroded
pipelines.

Mr Samson Osas, an eyewitness, said the Sapele
dual carriageway where the mechanic site was
located was filled with crude oil spill on Thursday.
He added that the development attracted officials
of the NNPC who came to drain the products.
“We woke up on Thursday morning and discovered
crude oil flood along this Sapele road.
“Of course that same morning, NNPC brought
about three fuel tankers to drain the oil.
“At about 9 am (Friday), 4 december 2015 there was fire. It had
spread everywhere. No life was lost, Soldiers have
been on guard since Thursday’’, he said.
Another eyewitness said more than 15 vehicles
and several shops were consumed in the inferno,
adding that a bus owner lost his vehicle to the
flame.
“The bus owner parked his new Toyota Hiace to
buy something and it was engulfed in flame
before he returned.”
The Director, Group Public Affairs of NNPC, Mr
Ohi Alegbe, blamed the incident on saboteurs.
He appealed to the people to see the pipeline as
national asset that should be protected by them.
“About two weeks ago, we had a similar problem
and we are still trying to remediate the
environment before this, it is not good’’, he said.
(NAN)
.