*Explosion
Mkpoikana Udoma
A youth leader in Ikarama community, Warder Ben, who raised the alarm, said residents heard multiple sounds of explosions that rocked the oil fields on Monday, but were terrified to approach the area.
Ben explained that the explosions led to massive air pollution in the community as a gas pipeline operated by Shell was affected.
“The site is not far from Ikarama. We heard sounds from the blast and it sounded like dynamites and it was not safe to go near, so when the situation became quiet we had to trace what happened and it turned out that Shell’s gas pipeline and Agip’s crude lines were destroyed.
“The incident resulted to air pollution from the gas pipeline and crude leak which members of the affected communities are battling to cope with,” he said.
Confirming the development, the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited said it received reports of the incident and had shut down the facility to curtail impact.
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Spokesperson of SPDC, Mr Michael Adande, assured that a government led joint investigative visit would ascertain the cause of the incident.
“We have report of an interference on our pipeline about one 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,” SPDC said.
