50 Missing After Pipeline Explosion in Nigeria

At least 50 persons have been said to have been missing after an explosion in Bayelsa state.

Naija News reports that the blast was said to have occurred during the early hours of Friday, March 1 when a leaking oil pipeline went up in flames in the Nembe Kingdom in Bayelsa state.

The Nembe Chiefs Council spokesman, Chief Nengi James-Eriworio, revealed that the blaze emanated 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,” a source revealed.

The Nembe trunk line is operated by the Port Harcourt-based Aiteo Group and carries crude to the Bonny export terminal. As at the time of filing this report, Aiteo was yet to comment on the explosion.

However, it is unclear if the pipeline was shut down immediately after the disaster.