Vandals Launch Series Of Attacks On Oil Pipelines In Bayelsa

Nigerian oil producer, Oando Plc, has confirmed a series of sabotage attacks on its key pipeline infrastructure in Bayelsa State, marking a troubling escalation in pipeline vandalism in the oil-rich Niger Delta region.

In a statement issued late Friday, Oando revealed that three separate incidents occurred over the past week, targeting vital pipeline assets.

The attacks affected the 18-inch Tepidaba-Brass crude oil pipeline located in the Brass Local Government Area and the 24-inch Ogboinbiri/Obiobi gas pipeline in the Southern Ijaw district.

Oando, which recently took over the operations of Nigerian Agip Oil Company from Italian energy giant Eni, has launched an emergency response to mitigate the damage.

Leak repair teams have been dispatched to the affected sites, according to a company spokesperson.

The company also confirmed it is collaborating with government and security agencies to conduct a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to assess the scale and cause of the sabotage.

“Once the investigation is concluded, we will immediately begin full-scale repair works to restore operations as quickly as possible,” the statement added.

Pipeline vandalism and crude theft continue to plague Nigeria’s oil sector, contributing to significant production losses and discouraging investments.

The recurring challenges have driven major international oil companies like Shell, ExxonMobil, Total, and Eni to divest their onshore and shallow-water assets, shifting their focus to more secure deep-water operations.

Authorities have yet to comment on whether any suspects have been identified or apprehended in connection with the recent attacks.

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