By our Reporter
Community sources in Asarama kingdom Andoni Local Government Area where there was a fire incident on Saturday have said that the fire was caused by equipment failure and not sabotage as being claimed in some quarters.
A fire outbreak was reported on the Trans National Pipeline at Iyongorong Agbagilor in Agbaokwan Asarama, Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Though no life was lost in the incident, sources said. But aquatic life was destroyed and fishing activities of the predominantly riverine community was disrupted as the people were no longer able to carry out their fishing and other economic activities.
The fire was said to have happened on Saturday, May 11, 2024 after the strike of thunder and lightning that accompanied a heavy rain in the community that morning.
Speaking with our correspondent on the telephone on the incident, His Royal Highness HRH. King A. J. Daniel-Erumumbuban, the natural ruler of Atah Obolo -Agbaokwan Asarama Community, Andoni Local Government Area, Rivers State confirmed the fire incident, saying he suspected equipment failure to be the cause of the fire outbreak.
The royal father stated; “From the view of the populace in that area, I think that incident happened by natural causes, because by what I was told, I was not there, according to the CDC chairman of the place, who called me to report the incident, as well as other people, my surveillance crew also. They said that the incident happened about 11 am on Saturday, May 11, 2024.
“There were thunder and lightning so immediately the fire erupted from that particular direction which boarders the Asarama kingdom and Bodo kingdom. So that is where the incident took place”.
He described the claim of sabotage by Shell Petroleum Development Company SPDC as hasty, saying there was no evidence to substatiate the claim without a joint investigation visit (JIV) by the critical stakeholders.
“We can only ascertain such claim if a joint investigation has been carried out, where the community will be there, SPDC, Pipeline Infrastructure will be there, all critical stakeholders will be there so that we can ascertain what is the remote cause.
“As for me, I suspect it to be an equipment failure, which coincided with the striking of thunder and lightning, which caused that incident because if it is sabotage you will hear an explosion but in this case there was nothing like an explosion. Immediately there was thunder and lightning, we experienced the bolt of fire from the direction of the impacted place.
“That’s what really happened and so I’m believing that this is as a result of Force Majouer. It happened by natural causes and I think it is an equipment failure. SPDC cannot lay claim to the incident that just occurred as a result of sabotage, until we are able to unravel the cause of the fire incident”.
Also speaking, a pipeline surveillance and community relations expert, Dr. Akpos Mezeh confirmed the fire incident and agreed with the royal father that it was only a joint investigation by the relevant stakeholders that would determine the cause of the fire outbreak.
He also ruled out the likelihood of sabotage explaining that the impact of the fire on the pipeline pointed to an outside impact than what would have been the case if it was a case of sabotage.
He called for patience from all concerned until the joint investigation visit JIV was conducted and the cause of the fire was finally determined.
He expressed satisfaction that no life was lost adding that the fire had been put out and the pipeline shut down pending the joint investigation visit JIV and repairs.
HRH Daniel-Erumumbuban further assured that the fire could not have been caused by sabotage in his kingdom because of the level of sensitisation in the community on the dangers of pipeline vandalism and oil bunkering.
He said; ” I can confidently tell you that the youths in my kingdom are very peaceful, the elders, every person in that place. The place is so serene that I don’t think that anything of such can happen there.
“Let me tell you, right from when we were engaged in pipeline surveillance, our community is being carried along to care for the pipeline within our area or orbit. I think that our record is clear. We have received lots of awards. You see pipeline vandalism all over the place, illegal bunkering all over the place, but when it comes to my area you don’t see such because we are predominantly fishermen and women.
“And with me as the traditional ruler in charge of that place, I have been able to orientate my people on the dangers of tampering with pipelines. We have about 6 risers, TNP we have 4 risers there and the NPFC we have 2. And in 2004 there was an explosion during the militancy era and we know the number of youths, women and children that died in that area and so because of this, it’s a collective effort, we don’t allow anything.
“You can find out from PPMC office. You can also find out from Ocean Marine, you can also find out from Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Ltd. These are the companies that have engaged the services of our community and I am telling you that, they applaud our community for the kind of serenity, the kind of environment friendly community of ours. And I can tell you, in the whole of that community no youth can involve themselves in anything pipeline vandalism or illegal bunkering that some persons seem to choose as a source of livelihood”.
He requested for assistance to the community in form of relief materials as the people’s main sources of livelihood have been disrupted by the fire.
“The depletion of aquatic life has been our worry. Like I told you earlier we are predominantly fishermen and women. During this time of inferno we were unable to carry out our fishing activities within that environment. These are the places we usually fish. Especially women who normally pick periwinkles. It happened around the creeks and mangroves where we pick periwinkles and other aquatic life, so fishing being our only source of livelihood the people are in serious suffering, the people are in serious pains.
“So we are calling on the federal government, we are calling on state government and every other critical stakeholders to come to our rescue. Give us relief materials so that this time we are not going out on our fishing business we will be able to take care of our family especially now that schools just opened so that we can send our children back to school. It has not been easy for us since this incident happened. So we need relief materials to be given to the people to cushion the effects of this fire incident”, the royal father pleaded.
