7 killed as Explosion Rocks NNPC Facility in Benin

Matilda Omonaiye/

Seven persons were confirmed dead in an explosion that rocked a facility of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in Benin, Edo State.

The incident occurred on yesterday, at the Benin River Valve Station in (BRVS), operated by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), a subsidiary of NNPC.

Group General Manager of NNPC group affairs division, Kennie Obateru, made this known in a statement today.

According to Obateru, the BRVS explosion happened at Gbetiokun, OML 40, operated by the petroleum company during production discharge in the facility.

He said the remains of the deceased have been deposited in a morgue in Sapele.

“The incident, which occurred on Tuesday during the installation of a ladder on a platform (Benin River Valve Station) for access during discharging of Gbetiokun production, unfortunately caused seven fatalities,” the statement read.

“The bodies of casualties have been deposited in a morgue in Sapele, while families of the personnel involved are being contacted by their employers.”

Obateru said a detailed investigation of the cause of the explosion has commenced.