Residents around Kolo-Otuoke/Bayelsa Palm Road in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa state have raised alarm over a massive leakage of substance suspected to be gas on the pipeline operated by the Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC).
It was gathered that the leak started on Monday night after a dynamite explosion suspected to have been triggered by vandals.
Confirming the incident on Tuesday, the Head of Environmental Rights Action Friends of the Earth Nigeria, ERA/FoEN, Alagoa Morris, said the leakage was the second in recent times.
According to him, “There are giant anthills on the Agip pipeline, which might also help the people to sabotage the system even in the afternoon to burst the pipeline because it will serve as a cover for the perpetrators.
“We have SPDC pipelines on the other side and Agip pipelines this way and both are running on the same line. That means there should be visibility so that people passing by will see any intruder whether in the day time or night. That could also send signal that something is happening here.
“And this is raw gas coming out from the geological formation. Knowing that from the formation we have water, oil and gas from several wells being channelled to wherever they are channelling it to which even make it more dangerous than gas flare in terms of impact on health, and can even result in fire if urgent step is not taken.
“In essence, what we are saying is that there should be enough security guiding the pipeline and that is why the recent contract given to some Niger Delta indigenes is very important and they should swing into action to ensure that not only the pipeline is protected but that the perpetrators should be apprehended and make to face the wrath of the law.”
He said the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) have been alerted and had already visited the site to profer possible solutions.
Meanwhile, residents have called on the government and other relevant agencies to swing into action and stop the leakage to mitigate harm in the area.
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