Just In: Panic in Bayelsa as ruptured underwater pipeline releases toxic gas

The people of Ayamasa Community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State are now living in palpable fear following the alleged rupture of an Agip owned underwater pipeline suspected to be carrying Liquefied Natural Gas, LNG and there are strong indications that the pipeline is releasing its content into the atmosphere.

Our Bomadi Correspondent report s that the ruptured pipeline gushes high pressure gas from the river bed at the middle of the watercourse, spitting the water high above the river level into the atmosphere in a boiling force, coming down like a waterfall causing serious tidal wave that has overwhelmed the section of the river.

Sources say activities at the river has come to a near halt as some river commercial operators no longer use the route to avoid coming in contact with the polluted atmosphere.

A community representative told Fresh Angle International that for fear of toxic hazards and an impending fire outbreak from the gas, the panicking Ayamasa residents have suspended all economic activities, including fishing, dredging, farming and other commercial ventures around the Ogbudubeniasa location of the pipeline where the people’s sources of livelihood are concentrated.

It was gathered that the affected 6 inches pipeline running from Tuo Well 4 in Ayamasa to Ogboinbiri flow station in Southern-Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State was executed in 2013 and completed early this year by a Port Harcourt based contracting energy company, ERASKONERGY Nig. Ltd.

Reacting to the unfortunate incident, the Community Chairman, Aseyaifity Bright Perelade described the development as worrisome, saying they now live in fear.

He explained further, “our fishing and farming land is now a no go area. Economic activities have been suspended as a measure to protect our people from going close to the area. The incident has brought untold hardship to the agrarian economy of our people.”

The Community Chairman appealed to the Bayelsa State Government, the State Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency and Agip to urgently take steps with a view to stop the suspected gas from causing more damage to the people. “We contacted the company, the day we noticed it. This is four days, yet they have not done anything”, the community leader stated.

Meanwhile a legal practitioner, Barr. A Eyekorogha has threatened to sue Agip  if it fails to compensate the community for the damage caused by what he described as “negligence” on the part of the company.

Barrister Eyekorogha advised the Federal Ministry of Environment, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA and other relevant stakeholders to protect the people of Ayamasa from imminent danger.

The Joint Task Force, JTF 222 battalion, Bomadi Unit which confirmed the incident cautioned the public against getting close to the ruptured site of the pipeline, adding that, “a routine patrol team on duty got to the location of the incident and we have since informed relevant authorities about the development”.

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