The Management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, over the weekend confirmed the killing of three of its personnel after suspected oil pipeline hackers opened fire on a team of engineers and technicians of the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company, PPMC, deployed to effect repairs on the recently vandalised products pipeline in Arepo Village near Lagos in Obafemi/Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State.
Acting Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the Corporation, Mr. Fidel Pepple stated in a statement that while three members of the repair team have been confirmed dead some others are receiving treatment as a result of wounds sustained after receiving gun shots from the vandals.
NNPC had dispatched a team of pipeline engineers and technologists to the ruptured products pipeline site in Arepo after it successfully put out the flames by ensuring a complete cut-off of product supply to the pipeline from the Atlas-cove.
The PPMC team were on the verge of gaining access to the damaged point to commence proper assessment of the scope of work when they were ensnared in an ambush.
Describing the situation as sad and regrettable the NNPC spokesman called on Nigerians to collaborate with the Corporation in its quest to ensure effective supply and distribution of petroleum products across the country by reporting the nefarious activities of pipeline vandals to the security agencies.
“Nigerians need to identify with the NNPC and recognise that it is our collective responsibility to work towards securing the nation’s oil installations which is our collective national asset. It is no news that our economy relies heavily on what comes out of these pipelines thus our economic destiny is tied to our pipelines,’’ he stated.
Mr. Pepple argued that any attack on our pipeline is an attack on our commonwealth and called on Nigerians to rise up to the challenge.
“It is therefore imperative for us to strive to protect these installations in order to ensure continuous flow of oil for the benefit of the Nigerian People,’’ he said.