Twelve oil workers died in a pipeline explosion which occurred on Thursday afternoon at Agip’s oil fields in Azuzuama in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area in Bayelsa.

Three others were injured in the explosion at an oil spill site operated by Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) where a Joint Investigation Visit was ongoing.

Officials of NAOC, representatives of the host community and Bayelsa Ministry of Environment were investigating the cause of a recent oil spill in the area.

According to a statement issued by an Eni Spokesman Mr Filipo Cotalini, the parent company of NAOC, the cause of the explosion is being investigated.

“Eni informs that an explosion occurred yesterday, 9 July late afternoon, at the site of the repair works of the Tebidaba-Clough Creek line, an oil pipeline in Nigeria’s onshore Niger Delta, previously damaged by acts of sabotage.

“The explosion resulted in the death of 12 members of the maintenance team of a local company of services, with 3 others being injured.

“The causes of the incident are still under investigation by both Eni and the local authorities.

“The company expresses its deepest condolences to the families involved in this tragic accident,” the firm stated.

A source in Bayelsa Ministry of Environment confirmed that its staff on the visit was safe and unhurt.

•Photo shows pipeline explosion scene.