Explosion rocks Shell, Agip oil facilities in Bayelsa

Oil facilities of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) in Bayelsa were attacked on Monday, raising fears of return of militant activities in the Niger Delta region.

This came on a day the Federal Government team was meeting with South-South governors and other leaders of the region in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Reports showed that the facilities were attacked in the early hours and sources around the area said they heard a loud sound from the area.

A youth representative in the community also said residents living around the area were battling air pollution from the gas pipeline and crude leak caused by the damage to the facilities.

A spokesman for Shell, Michael Adande, told journalists that the company shut down the facility immediately it got the report of the incident to curtail its impact, adding that relevant government authorities and stakeholders had been duly notified.

He said, “We have report of interference on our pipeline about 1 kilometre from Ikarama Community in Bayelsa State.

“We immediately shut-in the line and we have informed the relevant regulatory government agencies and stakeholders.

“A government-led joint investigation team will determine the cause of the interference.”