The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has attributed the fire incident at its Buguma Wellhead O08 in Rivers State, operated by its subsidiary, NNPC Eighteen Operating Ltd (NEOL), to the activities of pipeline vandals attempting to compromise the Christmas Tree and steal crude oil.
In a statement on Monday, NNPC described the incident as an act of sabotage that caused severe damage to the well’s back pressure valve.
The company noted that the attack reflects a concerning pattern of repeated assaults on wellheads in the area.
According to the statement, crude oil theft at the site has been ongoing since March 2023, with criminals resorting to extreme methods, including the use of dynamite to destroy installations and gain illegal access to hydrocarbons.
NNPC reaffirmed its commitment to tackling such incidents and minimizing the financial losses they impose on the nation’s economy.
“The company is working closely with relevant security agencies to put an end to these acts of vandalism,” the statement read.
The company also assured affected communities of continued support, pledging to provide relief efforts to mitigate the impact of the incident.
NNPC’s statement came shortly after the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) refuted allegations linking it to the explosion at the wellhead in Buguma Community, Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Earlier reports had suggested that NAF operatives were responsible for the explosion.
However, in a separate statement, NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Vice Marshal Olusola Akinboyewa, clarified that the wellhead had been leaking crude oil for an extended period due to ongoing illegal activities in the area.
He said, “The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has noted with concern a misleading report by certain media outlets suggesting that the NAF may have been responsible for the explosion at the NNPC wellhead in Buguma Community, Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.
“The NAF categorically refutes this false and unfounded claim and urges media outlets to exercise due diligence by verifying facts before publishing, rather than relying on assumptions.
“Contrary to the allegations made by the Buguma Community spokesperson, who speculated that the fire may have been caused by ageing oil facilities, illegal oil bunkering, or NAF operations, we wish to clarify the situation. The wellhead had been leaking crude oil due to prolonged illegal activities in the area.”
Akinboyewa further stated that high-definition video footage from previous NAF missions, including recordings from December 2024, showed that the wellhead had been leaking and the surrounding area was already engulfed in flames before NAF operations began.
He said, “Video recordings from previous missions confirm that the wellhead had been leaking for an extended period, resulting in the accumulation of gas and flammable liquids in the surrounding environment.
“High-definition video recordings from the NAF platform, including footage from December 2024, clearly show the wellhead spilling oil and the barge already burnt before its arrival at the location.
The onboard camera system ensures transparency and accountability by capturing and documenting all activities, eliminating any possibility of indiscriminate firing at civilians or destroying assets, as falsely alleged.”
