Crude oil pipeline explosion kills three workers in Bayelsa, Nigeria

The explosion of a crude oil pipeline operated by Eni’s wholly owned subsidiary Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) in Bayelsa has killed three people and injured seven.

The blast is believed to have occurred during repair work on the oil pipeline in Nigeria’s southern Delta region.

Bodies were recovered after the fire was brought under control.

Those dead were maintenance workers who were working on the oil pipeline when it caught fire.

National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency director general Peter Idabor told media sources the accident occurred as safety procedures had been breached, while carrying out repair works.

Idabor said: "I am going to report the matter officially to the minister of environment today."

The news follows attacks on the Nigerian Agip Oil Company’s crude oil pipelines in Bayelsa by suspected militants in February.

The attacks were made after an arrest warrant was issued in January against former militant leader Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo.