By Simon Utebor, Yenagoa
Unidentified persons have attacked oil facilities operated by the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) at Ikarama, Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
A youth leader, Ben Warder, said yesterday that residents heard several sounds from the oil fields on Monday but were too scared to approach the area.
He said: “The site is not far from Ikarama. Sounds coming from the oil fields were like dynamites and it was not safe to go near. So when the situation became quiet, we traced what happened and it turned out that Shell’s gas pipeline and Agip’s crude lines were destroyed.
“The incident resulted in air pollution and crude leak which residents of the affected communities are battling with.”
SPDC spokesperson Michael Adande said the firm received reports of the incident and shut the facility to curtail further impact.
“We have reports of interference on our pipeline about one kilometre from Ikarama community in Yenagoa. We immediately shut the line and informed relevant regulatory government agencies and stakeholders. A government-led joint investigation team will determine the cause of the interference.”
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