A community in Rivers State is facing a serious problem after a pipeline started leaking petroleum products. The incident happened on Sunday in Obianime-Ama, Okrika Local Government Area.

According to reports, the pipeline belongs to the Pipeline and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), a part of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). Witnesses said the leakage started around 2:30 pm near the PPMC facility in Okrika.

Local residents are trying to stop the spill, but the situation remains unresolved. As a safety measure, they have blocked the area and stopped vehicles and motorcycles from passing through.

Many people in the community are worried about the dangers of the leakage. Some believe the pipeline is too old and should be replaced. Others ruled out vandalism because security personnel guard the area every night.

A resident told Channels Television, “This cannot be vandalism. The pipeline is too old, and it needs to be changed.”

Despite the growing concerns, there has been no immediate response from the pipeline operators. Attempts to contact the community leaders and PPMC for comments were unsuccessful.

The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) confirmed the incident in a press release. The group said the leakage led to an explosion on the PPMC pipeline in Okrika.

YEAC-Nigeria’s volunteers, who are part of the One Million Youth Volunteers Network for Human Rights in the Niger Delta, recorded videos showing flames from the pipeline. The fire was later put out the same day.

The group linked the incident to ongoing maintenance work on the pipeline after an earlier problem on March 20, 2025. They have called for urgent action to prevent further damage and protect the environment.

Residents are now waiting for authorities to respond and fix the problem before it gets worse.