THE state of insecurity in Delta State took another dimension on Saturday night as two oil flow stations operated by Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) were blown up.
Nigerian Tribune gathered on Sunday that the incident took place at about 10.00 p.m. Saturday at the facilities located off Forcados in Burutu Local Government Area of the state.
A highly placed security source disclosed that following the bombing, a raging fire enveloped well heads and jackets offshore Beniboye Coast.
The source added that security agents and firefighters were battling to bring the fire under control as at the time of filing this report.
As part of efforts to curtail the raging fire, NAOC had cut supply of crude oil to the facilities.
Though no group has claimed responsibility for the bombing, it was learnt that security agents were looking towards two communities for answers because of longstanding disagreement between them and the oil company.
Nigerian Tribune learnt that the communities had asked the management of the oil company to meet certain conditions to guarantee unhindered operations of the oil multinationals in the areas.
The security source said �loud explosions were heard around 10.00 p.m. on Saturday in Beniboye and the oil wells are still on fire on Sunday afternoon.
�We have a strong reason to suspect people from two communities in the area because of their problems with the management of NAOC.�
Commander of Joint Military Task Force (JTF) operating in the Niger Delta, Brigadier-General Wuyep Rimtip, and the Commanding Officer, NNS Delta, Warri Naval Base in Delta State, Navy Captain Samson Ojediran, had briefed the Delta State and Federal governments as well as their agencies, on the latest development.