Crude oil pipeline belonging to Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC), at Tuomo community in Burutu local government area of Delta state exploded on Monday, injuring dozens of the residents.
According to an eyewitness, the pipeline broke open about a week ago and residents of Tuomo and Ayamasa communities have been scooping crude oil gushing out of the broken pipeline until it blew beyond control on Monday.
“The incident occurred almost a week ago when the Tuomo-Ogboinbiri Agip pipeline, believed to be carrying gas as claimed by Agip, exploded and diesel began to spill out of the pipeline.
“So, the community folk trooped out to the site and began to scoop the fuel. This has been on for almost a week now. It was agreed upon by the two host communities, Tuomo and Ayamasa, to take turns in the scooping process day by day.
“It was the turn of Tuomo community today when tragedy struck, as one of them lit a lighter to smoke cigarette when the place went up in flames with dozens of casualties, about five victims have been evacuated to a nearby hospitals at Bomadi.
“As I’m talking to you, local rescue operations are still ongoing and we cannot tell the total number of victims now, though we have not recorded any death,” the anonymous eyewitness said.
Recall that this is coming in less than a month when an illegal oil refinery exploded in Imo state, burning over 100 people beyond recognition.
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