Agip Pipe Explosion Victims Body Recovered

The Bayelsa Police Command on Saturday said it
has recovered the remains of the victims of
Thursday’s crude oil pipeline explosion within
Agip’s field in the state.
Asinim Butswat, police spokesperson for Bayelsa
Command said on Saturday that two people we​re
still missing and hence not part of the death toll
confirmed.
Mr. Butswat said search and rescue efforts had
since been activated, but yet to yield any results.
“On Thursday, June 9th 2015, at about 1600hrs, a
pipeline exploded while AGIP Staff were carrying
out routine maintenance on Tebidaba-Clough line,
in Southern Ijaw LGA,” Mr. Butswat said. “Twelve
persons were burnt beyond recognition, which
included a soldier on guard duty amongst others.
“Four persons were rescued alive and are
undergoing treatment, while two persons are still
missing. Search for the missing persons is
ongoing.”
Agip had said on Friday that 12 people died in a
pipeline explosion which occurred on Thursday
afternoon at Agip’s oil fields in Azuzuama in
Southern Ijaw Local Government Area in Bayelsa.
The officials of Nigerian Agip Oil Company,
representatives of the host community and Bayelsa
Ministry of Environment were investigating the
cause of a recent oil spill in the area when the
explosion occurred.
According to a statement issued by an Eni
spokesperson, Filipo Cotalini, the parent company
of NAOC, the cause of the explosion is being
investigated.
“Eni informs that an explosion occurred yesterday,
9 July late afternoon, at the site of the repair works
of the Tebidaba-Clough Creek line, an oil pipeline
in Nigeria’s onshore Niger Delta, previously
damaged by acts of sabotage,” the firm stated.
“The explosion resulted in the death of 12
members of the maintenance team of a local
company of services, with 3 others being injured.
The causes of the incident are still under
investigation by both Eni and the local authorities.
The company expresses its deepest condolences
to the families involved in this tragic accident.”
A source who survived the incident said that an
official of the National Oil Spills Detection and
Response Agency was among the dead.