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More than 50 People Missing After Pipeline Explosion in Nigeria

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Fatal pipeline accidents are common in the country.

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Afolabi Sotunde/REUTERS

More than 50 people are reportedly missing in southern Nigeria’s Nembe kingdom after a leaking oil pipeline exploded. The explosion early Friday prompted a stampede, and resulted in a sprawling oil spill, a Nembe chief told The Associated Press on Saturday. The pipeline, run by Aiteo Group, transports crude oil to the Bonny terminal. It’s not yet known whether the pipeline has been shut down. Oil industry-related deaths are common around the Niger Delta region. An overturned oil tanker exploded in January, killing at least 12 people who tried collecting the leaking fuel. The region is highly polluted. Oil companies operating in Nigeria often claim that spillages result from illegal refining, sabotage, and theft, per the AP.

Read it at Associated Press

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