There is palpable tension right now at Otu-Jeremi Town in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State following an explosion which gutted the Abura Crude Trunkline operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
Sources told reporters that the oil pipeline exploded some moment ago today’s Friday, gushing volumes of crude oil into the surroundings in Otu-Jeremi, Headquarters of Ughelli South LGA.
Residents in the community, especially those living meters from the affected line are still running helter skelter in fear over the incident.
The affected line accommodates Oil Mining Lease (OML) 34 pipelines operated by ND Western jointly with the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), and that of Abura Line belonging to the NPDC.
It is not clear yet which of both lines have ruptured and WARRI TODAY digs further into the unfolding incident.
The incident has led to the temporal closure of the weekly Otu-Jeremi market as traders and customers are still scampering for safety.
Our sources claimed that soldiers have cordoned off the scene and surroundings of the incident.
“Fire-fighting trucks have just arrived. People are still running as we speak. Soldiers are everywhere”, one of the sources said.
