Presidency on Saturday said the Osisioma Ngwa pipeline has been vandalized a total of 684 times within the last six months

Presidency stated this in a statement where President Muhammadu Buhari expressed regret over what he described as “the unnecessary loss of lives and property as a result of the pipeline explosion in the Osisioma Ngwa community of Abia State Friday morning”

The President however , expressed sympathy with those who lost loved ones in the latest act of vandalism

The statement which was signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said preliminary reports by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) show that the incident was not an accidental explosion, but a result of vandals who pilloried the pipelines to scoop the products.

“Despite repeated warnings, these unscrupulous people have vandalised that particular pipeline 684 times in the last six months alone.

According to the statement, “Each time the pipeline is repaired, they resume their activities, even collaborating with security agents, who are reported to have set up toll gates collecting fees from the vandals.

“A fight broke out as a heist was going on and there was shooting, which is believed to have ignited Friday morning’s explosion, during which three security personnel also lost their lives.”

President Buhari therefore, urged those communities and state governments that host oil pipelines to be more vigilant and rise to combat the challenge posed by pipeline vandalism.

The Enugu depot of the NNPC has been repaired and ready to function, but remains idle today because of the vandals.

The President also appealed to host communities to collaborate with the NNPC to tame oil pipeline vandalism in their areas.

Source:- Businessdayonline