Delta: Thousands evacuated as pipeline erupts close to army barrack

Thousands of residents of communities around the Nigeria Army, Effurun Barracks, Uvwie local government area of Delta State, were evacuated on Tuesday afternoon following a massive pipeline fire.

Although what triggered the fire has not been ascertained at the time of filling this report, The Nation learnt that at least one house was razed.

Panicking residents of the area were seen fleeing with their belongings for safe havens outside the scene.

Various sources told our correspondent that the pipeline which conveys products from the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company to other parts of the country had ruptured several weeks ago.

Residents of the area said the owner of the facility, Pipelines and Product Marketing Company, a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, allegedly refused to take action until Tuesday when the pipeline erupted.

“The pipeline had been leaking products for weeks, maybe months, now the NNPC is fully aware but they did nothing about it. About a week ago they came here and were cleaning the oil from the area but they left again,” a resident of the Mammy Market shanties told our correspondent.