At least 16 people lost their lives on Friday when explosions, presumably caused by “thieves,” occurred at an oil pipeline in Nigeria’s southeastern state of Abia, local media reported, citing the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The incident happened in the village of Umuaduru, NSCDC Abia Commander Benito Eze said, according to the Premium Times newspaper. The pipeline’s operator Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) confirmed that the explosions have claimed lives of several people.
“NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, confirmed fatalities and loss of properties in the ensuing inferno … the incident might have been caused by suspected oil thieves who had hacked into the line to intercept flow of petrol from Port Harcourt to Aba,” the company wrote on Facebook.