An explosion on Wednesday at Addax Petroleum Development Nigeria Ltd’s flowstation in Izombe, Imo State, has killed one person.
This comes days after an explosion at an illegal refinery in the Egbema area of the state led to the death of over 100 people.
The oil firm which confirmed the development in a statement on Friday by its spokesperson, Mrs Awatt Etta, said an unexploded explosive device and the corpse of the suspected vandal were found at the incident site within its Oil Mining Lease (OML) 124.
Addax said it was collaborating with regulatory agencies and security agencies in ongoing investigations into the incident.
“At about 01:15am on May 4, 2022, an explosion occurred along a trackroad leading to one of the well heads at Izombe Flow station in OML 124.
“An immediate search was conducted, and unexploded Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and a corpse were found at the scene.
“Government Security and Regulatory Agencies were promptly notified of the incident. The Police Bomb Disposal Unit have detonated the IEDs and deposited the corpse at the mortuary.
“Details of the incident are still sketchy, but it is suspected that the bomb which detonated and caused the explosion was being carried by the deceased who is yet to be identifed.
“We are currently working with relevant authorities investigating the incident. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available,” Addax stated.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Spokesman for Police Command Imo, CSP Mike Abattam who also confirmed the incident, said police has reinforced security in the area.