Explosion has again rocked a major pipeline in the Niger Delta region, a few days after an attack on oil and gas pipelines in the Gbaramatu kingdom Delta state, dealt a deadly blow on the economy.
This time the attack occurred on a pipeline owned by the Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) in Brass Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.
Persons suspected to be unrepentant militants were said to have attacked the pipeline located along Orukari, Golubokiri and Kpongbokiri communities in Brass
Panic was said to have gripped the communities following the disposition of the government against acts capable of worsening the bleeding economy.
It was learnt that the attackers committed the heinous economic crime on Thursday night.
The incident caused massive spillage of crude oil not the waterways and fishing camps.
A member representing Brass Constituency 1 in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Mr. Isreal Sunny-Igoli confirmed the explosion in a statement he signed in Yenagoa.
Igoli said that preliminary investigations into the incident showed that it was an act of sabotage carried out to hurt the economic interests of Bayelsa and Nigeria.
He said the latest explosion coming after bombing of pipelines recently in the same axis was worrisome and capable of forcing oil companies out of operation and adversely affecting the Nigeria’s economy.
Sunny- Goli called on security agencies to beef up security around oil facilities to prevent future attacks adding that economic saboteurs were bent on crippling Nigeria’s economy.
He said: “I want to condemn the latest attack on Agip pipeline at Kpongbokiri. This is a clear sabotage by economic saboteurs. Recently they blasted pipeline at Orukari and Golubokiri.
“I condemned this latest attack on Agip pipeline at Kpongbokiri in its entirety. It is sabotage against Nigeria in a bid to cripple the economy at a time the Nation is struggling with decline in revenue due to the fall in oil prices.
“It is common knowledge that because of the low price of oil which is our main source of revenue, many states can hardly pay workers salaries. This sabotage is capable of crippling the economy if not urgently curbed.
“If these attacks are not checked and the perpetrators brought to book and Agip decides to pull out of Bayelsa state it would be disastrous for us as a people.
“Bayelsa state is an oil producing state and our revenue from the federal government is based on our quota of production but this would be reduced if Agip decides to pull out because incessant attacks on its facilities are not stopped.
“I want to urge security agencies to probe the attack on Agip pipeline and ensure that the perpetrators are arrested and brought to book. Bayelsans especially those that have oil facilities around them should also be vigilant and report any suspicious movement to security agencies to prevent further attacks.”
