Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) oil facilities have been rocked by a fatal explosion at Ikarama community, Yenagoa local government area (LGA) of Bayelsa state on Monday.
A youth leader in Ikarama near the incident site, Ben Warder told newsmen on Tuesday that residents heard several sounds from the explosions that rocked Shell gas pipeline and Agip’s crude lines.
“The site is not far from Ikarama, we heard sounds from the blast and it sounded like dynamites and it was not safe to go near,” Warder said.
“So, when the situation became quiet we had to trace what happened and it turned out that Shell’s gas pipeline and Agip’s crude lines were destroyed.
“The incident resulted to air pollution from the gas pipeline and crude leak which members of the affected communities are battling to cope with.”
A spokesman of the SPDC, Micheal Adande confirmed the incident and further stated that the oil firm had received reports of the incident and shut down the facility to curtail impact.
“We have report of interference on our pipeline about 1 kilometre from Ikarama community in Bayelsa state,” Adande said.
“We immediately shut-in the line and we have informed the relevant regulatory government agencies and stakeholders.
“A government-led joint investigation team will determine the cause of the interference.”
However, a gas explosion occurred at an illegal crude oil refinery camp located between Ibelebiri and Otuegue 2 communities in Ogia LGA of Bayelsa state on November 19, 2020.
The illegal refinery camp, popularly known as Kpoo-fire, killed three teenagers and left several people injured.
