Activities of crude oil thieves have set fire at Agip oil
pipeline at Ubeta in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers,
The field is operated by Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC)
a subsidiary of Italian Energy firm, Eni.
Ubeta is a border settlement between Bayelsa and Rivers states
separated by the Orashi River.
A community source who participated in the Joint
Investigative Visit (JIV) who wished to remain anonymous for fear of the
vandals said the fire which broke out on Friday has been contained.
According to the source, the inferno, which was ignited
in the early hours of Friday was finally put off on Sunday by a fire fighting
team deployed in the area.
He said that the JIV report concluded that the fire was
caused by vandals.
“A joint investigation at the scene of the incident by
regulatory agencies, NOSDRA, DPR, Rivers State Ministry of Environment and Community representatives to ascertain
the cause of the inferno revealed that it was due to a third party interference.
"An illegal bunkering point was found on the
pipeline at the point of the fire and it was being repaired", said the
source who was on the JIV team.
Residents say the area is notorious for illegal crude
refining activities, a development that has made the settlement a target for
frequent raid by security agencies.
When contacted for
comments on the development, Marilia Cioni, Regional External
Communication Advisor, in charge of Sub Saharan Africa at Eni, the parent
company of NAOC said the company would soon speak on the incident.
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