The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has refuted the allegation that negligence on its part caused the oil pipeline fire incident last Friday in Umuaduru and Umuimo communities in Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area of Abia State. Spokesman for the corporation Mr. Ndu Ughamadu said on Thursday that the incident was triggered off by suspected oil thieves who hacked into System 2E pipeline network of the corporation with a view to intercepting the flow of petrol from Port Harcourt to Aba.
Ughamadu in a statement said the clarification became necessary in view of the recent statement by a legislator indicting NNPC on the fire outbreak which had claimed lives and valuable properties.
He called on relevant government agencies to collaborate with the corporation to appropriately criminalize vandalism of oil facilities across the country.
