… says incident is latest in a string of attacks on the facility since March 2023

… NAF confirms barge burnt before arrival, attributes leak to prolonged illegal activities

Oredola Adeola

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has attributed the fire at its Buguma Wellhead 008, operated by its subsidiary NNPC Eighteen Operating Ltd (NEOL), to pipeline vandals attempting to tamper with the Christmas Tree and steal crude oil, marking the latest in a series of repeated attacks on wellheads in the area since March 2023.

Olufemi Soneye,  Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Ltd. stated this in a statement released on Monday.

Advisors Reports’ gathered that well 8 of the Oil Mining Lease (OML) 18 facility, in Bukuma Creek, Degema Local Government Area, Rivers State, has been leaking oil for weeks, causing significant harm to aquatic life in nearby Buguma, Asari-Toru Local Government Area.

He stated that the unfortunate sabotage, which also resulted in severe damage to the well’s back pressure valve, reflects a disturbing pattern of repeated attacks on wellheads in the zone.

Soneye said, “Since March 2023, crude oil theft on this asset has been persistent, with criminals now resorting to extreme measures, including the use of dynamite to destroy installations and illegally access hydrocarbons.

“The NNPC Ltd remains committed to combating these fires and mitigating the financial losses associated with these criminal activities, which significantly burden the nation’s economy.

The NNPC’s spokesperson emphasised that the company is working closely with relevant security agencies to end these acts of vandalism.

He reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting communities affected by these destructive activities and will continue to provide necessary relief efforts to mitigate the impact on those affected.

Earlier Livingstone Membere, President of the Kalabari Youth Federation, in a recent statement lamenting over the incident

Taribo Horsefall, youth leader from Bukuma, alleged that the fire erupted due to the syphoning of oil from a badge a few days ago.

According to him, “The company operating the facility brought a badge that was extorting oil from the ground.

“The crane was dragging something from the well to bring it out. What we saw was a spark; that’s how the fire came about. It was a spark that caused the fire,” Horsefall said.

Meanwhile, Air Vice Marshal Olusola Akinboyewa, the Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, in a statement stated that the wellhead had been leaking crude oil due to prolonged illegal activities in the area.

“High-definition (HD) video recordings from the NAF platform, including footage from December 2024, clearly show the wellhead spilling oil and the barge already burnt before its arrival at the location,” he added.