More than 50 people are dead after a leaking oil pipeline exploded and caused a stampede in southern Nigeria, a local official said on Saturday.

The blast early on Friday caused massive oil spillage in the Nembe kingdom in Bayelsa state, the Nembe Chiefs Council spokesman, Chief Nengi James-Eriworio, told the Associated Press.

The Nembe trunk line is operated by the Port Harcourt-based Aiteo Group and carries crude oil to the Bonny export terminal. Aiteo has yet to comment on the explosion. It was not immediately clear if the pipeline has been shut down.

Video obtained by the AP shows a large blaze from the ruptured pipeline at night as villagers look on. “If they turn off the oil well from the station, the pressure inside the pipeline would reduce, causing the flame to burn out,” one person is heard in the background explaining.

The Niger Delta is highly polluted. Nigerian oil companies usually assert that the majority of oil spills are caused by sabotage, theft and illegal refining.

Fatal accidents caused by leaking pipelines are common. In January, an overturned oil tanker exploded in Odukpani in Cross River state while dozens of people were scooping up the leaking fuel. Police said at least 12 people were killed while some witnesses estimated up to 60 were dead.

Hundreds of people have died in similar accidents in recent years in Africa’s largest oil producing country as impoverished people risk their lives to collect fuel leaking from pipelines or trucks.

Source : https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/02/more-than-50-missing-after-oil-pipeline-explosion-in-nigeria

Chai

Nawaoooo hope it's not those Marvel Avengers Asari dokubo and company

So sad

Natural resources turning to death resources

Number of human lives we loose to these carelesness are unbelieveable!
Kids, pregnant women, newly married spouses, husbands, sisters..the list is endless and it doesn't seem to matter cus afterall, "it was an accident".
We need to start placing our priorities right. We need to know our rights!
God help Nigeria!!

E be like say nah weed we go still grow las las...This our oyel has done more harm than good to Nigerians/Nigeria.

Where are my cone head environmental activist brethrens?

Death rate is becoming too much in Naija

Oh! Not again

Sad

Fyfhfhf

So sad and tragic

RIP.

I blame Buhari for this. Buhari will not end well. Mark my word

Lordofthewest:
E be like say nah weed we go still grow las las...This our oyel has done more harm than good to Nigerians/Nigeria.

Lol

The villager are the ones damaging it. Well my client is affected . Their crude cant reach spdc bonny terminal be dat till may

God.....R.I.P...the dead...I just lost a friend in the explosion that happened in Abia state last...Ejima Rest In Peace....hhaaaaaaaa....

jesus is lord

Pipeline Vandalism.

rip

oil bunkers

Keep vandalising the pipelines, we are to suffer the consequences together.

Where are my brothers always cheering the militants to keep bombing fuel pipes

Who is dying now

So sad

Shell foresaw all these and sold off those asset.