The Management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has confirmed that the fire outbreak near its pipeline at Imagbon near Arepo in Ogun State was caused by oil thieves who have moved their nefarious activities to the area.
The Corporation in a statement explained that the fire was sparked off when some oil thieves who were siphoning petroleum products from the pipeline engaged in a shoot-out with security men who were moving in to apprehend them.
“The explosion occurred in the early hours of yesterday, Sunday, 1 February, 2015, and our fire-fighters moved in shortly after the police gave clearance that it was safe to move in. The fire has since been put out and repairs have been completed.
“All the 9 vandalized points that were discovered have been repaired, the pipeline has been recovered and pumping operations have commenced.
“We want to assure the Nigerian public that the incident will not affect the distribution and supply of petroleum products in any part of the country.”
The Corporation also enjoined all Nigerians to see the pipelines and other oil and gas assets across the country as their own and protect them as such by reporting any suspicious movement around them to the security agencies.
