Crude oil thieves have set fire on an oil pipeline at Ubeta community in the Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Report says the field is operated by Nigeria Agip Oil Company, and a subsidiary of Italy’s Eni.
A source in Ubeta community, who participated in a Joint Investigative Visit (JIV) to the burnt facility, said the fire which broke out on Sept. 20 had been contained, adding that the fire was ignited in the early hours of Sept. 20, was put off by a fire-fighting team on Sept. 22.
The source said JIV report concluded that the fire was caused by vandals.
Ubeta residents said that the area is notorious for illegal crude refining activities, a development that has made the community a target for frequent raids by law enforcement agents