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Fear Grips Rivers Community As Ruptured Pipeline Leaks Unidentified Petroleum Product
Residents of Obianime-Ama Community in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State are in fear mode following the discovery of a ruptured pipeline leaking an unidentified petroleum product in broad daylight.
The incident, which occurred on Sunday, has raised concerns about potential environmental hazards and safety risks in the area.
It was gathered from sources that the affected pipeline belongs to the Pipeline and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
Eyewitnesses reported that the leakage began around 2:30 pm near a location opposite the PPMC facility in Okrika LGA.
Ruptured pipeline leaking an unidentified petroleum product
Despite efforts by community members to contain the spill, the situation remains unresolved, prompting residents to cordon off the area and restrict vehicular and motorcycle movement as a precautionary measure.
Pictures made available to Channels Television revealed the extent of the leakage, with residents expressing frustration over the lack of immediate response from the pipeline’s operators.
While some speculated that the rupture might have been caused by vandalism, others dismissed the possibility, citing the presence of security personnel guarding the facility nightly.
One resident, who chose to remain anonymous, stated, “It can’t be vandalism. People guard this place every night, so that kind of thing is impossible. The pipeline is old and needs to be replaced.”
Efforts to reach the Chairman of the Obianime-Ama Community Development Committee and the management of PPMC for comments were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) issued a press release on Sunday, confirming the incident and calling for urgent action.
According to the statement signed by its Executive Director, Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, the leakage and subsequent explosion occurred on the PPMC pipeline right of way in Okrika.
The incident was reportedly linked to ongoing maintenance work by contractors following an earlier incident on Thursday, March 20, 2025.
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YEAC-Nigeria’s youth volunteers, under the One Million Youth Volunteers Network of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters in the Niger Delta, documented the incident with video evidence showing flames erupting from the pipeline.
The inferno was eventually extinguished later the same day. The organization has called on relevant authorities, including the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), to conduct a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to determine the cause of the leakage and explosion.
YEAC-Nigeria also urged the government to hold accountable those responsible for the incident, invoking applicable sections of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021.
Fyneface emphasized the need for a thorough investigation into the recurring oil spillages and explosions in the Niger Delta, particularly in Rivers State, to mitigate their adverse environmental and socio-economic impacts.
As the situation in Obianime-Ama remains tense, residents are calling for swift action to repair the pipeline and prevent further damage to their community and environment.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The president of Grade A Customary Court, Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, Mrs S.M Akintayo, has adjourned a divorce suit brought before it by a man, Kasali, against his wife, Ajoke, on the account of irreconcilable differences.
Kasali stated that he and Ajoke never had a traditional wedding, but that she moved into his house shortly after they met.
Kasali added that he refused to pay Ajoke’s bride price because she was no longer a virgin by the time they met
The plaintiff insisted on divorce because according to him, no meaningful communication ever held between him and his wife.
Kasali stated that he and Ajoke did not understand each other which was the reason for their regular fight.
Kasali further stated that Ajoke was already dating another man which made it imperative that the relationship between him and her be brought to an end.
Ajoke was not in court, although she was served court summonses.
Kasali, in his evidence, said, “My wife moved into my house shortly after we met.
“We never held any marital rites.
“I refused to pay her bride price when her parents insisted on having it because she is not a virgin.
My lord, living with my wife was an error.
“We never understood each other and hardly agreed on any issue.
“We lived like cat and dog; shouting at each other and nagging.
“There was communication breakdown in our relationship.
I heaved a sigh of relief the day she moved out of my house.
“I came to court to end our marriage. This I believe is necessary because she has started dating another man.”
(TRIBUNE)
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
A Shari’a court sitting at Magajin Gari, Kaduna State, has dissolved the union between Yusuf Faruq and Kafayat Hamza after the latter paid N200,000 to redeem herself from the marriage.
The judge, Malam Kabir Muhammad stated that a wife has the right to redeem herself from a marriage by returning the dowry she received from her husband.
He explained that the dowry refunded could be the exact amount she received or less. She added that it could even be more than the initial amount.
The complainant earlier prayed the court to dissolve her union with her husband through Khul’i (redemption), expressing her readiness to return the N6,000 dowry she received from him.
The defendant, however, stated that he would only accept N200,000, which the complainant agreed to pay.
United States President, Donald Trump has opened up that Tech billionaire Elon Musk has never asked him for a favour or anything.
Trump made the claim in the Oval Office on Wednesday when asked by a reporter if Musk is advising him on auto tariffs.
“No, because he may have a conflict, so we don’t talk. I have never talked to him. Elon’s amazing,” Trump responded.
“He’s never asked me for a favour in business whatsoever. I’m actually a little surprised by it. I might do it, I might not do it.
“I do what’s right, and he’d want me to do what’s right. No, he is a patriot.
“He has never, you know, these are big deals we’re talking about.
“This is probably nothing like this, and I have never had Elon come and say, Would you do me a favor with a mandate or the electric mandate or anything? He’s never asked me for anything.”
Trump’s latest automobile tariffs are expected to take effect from April 2, 2025.
Despite the eternal outrage, American workers and Democrats have backed Trump’s auto tariffs.
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