Death Toll In Oil Pipeline Explosions In Southeastern Nigeria Increases To 60 - Reports

The number of people killed as a result of oil pipeline explosions that occurred on Friday in Nigeria's southeastern state of Abia has reached 60, local media reported Monday citing the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 16th October, 2018) The number of people killed as a result of oil pipeline explosions that occurred on Friday in Nigeria's southeastern state of Abia has reached 60, local media reported Monday citing the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

Earlier reports suggested that 24 people were killed.

"My team has visited the scene of the explosion and we discovered that victims of the incident took advantage of the pipeline leakage and were scooping the oil before fire caught on them. I also blamed the victims who noticed the leakage but rather than raising alarm, decided to steal the fuel which eventually led to their death," NEMA Coordinator Imo/Abia Operations Office Evans Ugoh said as quoted by the Eagle Online media outlet.

He also said that the pipeline that exploded was subject to maintenance, which had not been performed.

The incident took place in Umuimo and Umuaduru settlements.