Yet another oil pipeline

Another pipeline fire occurred in Nigeria’s Niger Delta on Monday, local and international media reported. Quoting a report in the state-owned ‘Daily Times’ newspaper, AFP said at least 40 people died in the fire near the town of Sapele. The reports noted that the fire was the third in the Delta this month in which people collecting petrol from vandalised pipelines were burnt to death. AFP reported that 16 people died in a similar incident last week and at least 250 people the week before. The BBC reported Delta State Governor James Ibori as saying that Monday’s incident was the sixth fire in two months and appealing for federal help to tackle the problem.