Explosions rock Agip facilities in Rivers

Explosions rock Agip facilities in Rivers

THERE was fear and apprehension in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State on Monday when some of the facilities belonging to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company exploded and went up in flames.

Some indigenes and residents of Ebeocha town, who were getting set for their
various businesses, were jolted by the deafening sound of the explosion.
The people around the area became more scared because a similar explosion had occurred at the same point at about 10pm on Sunday.

Though the cause of the explosion could not be immediately ascertained, it was
gathered that it might not be unconnected to the aging facilities (tanks) used in
oil production and exploration.

An eyewitness told The PUNCH that no casualty was recorded as fire fighters
from Agip and Total Exploration and Production firms had raced to the place to
put out the inferno that emanated from the explosion.

“Nobody was injured and nobody died. When it happened, fire service men came
almost immediately to fight the fire. We cannot really say what actually caused
the explosion.

“We heard the first explosion in the night on Sunday before the second one that
caused the fire outbreak,” the eyewitness, who identified himself as Ella, said.
Speaking on the incident, the Chairman of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government
Area, Mr. Augustine Ahiamadu, dismissed speculations that the incident could be
as a result of sabotage.
Ahiamadu, who said the cause of the fire could be mechanical, described the site
where the incident happened as a high risk zone, added that the tanks were old
and needed to be replaced.
The council chairman, however, said though two explosions occurred Sunday
night, he would not be able to confirm if there was any casualty.
According to him, “It started yesterday (Sunday) night and they contained it. Early
this morning, another explosion came up again. For now, we cannot ascertain
anything because I am yet to be briefed officially.
“But I have told them that they need to do all they can to ensure that the incident
is properly handled; and also to make sure that my people are secured.”
Security operatives have since been drafted to the place, even as some people,
who believed there would be more explosions, had begun to leave Ebeocha town.

Report from Punch Newspaper