The Bayelsa Palm-New Otuoke Road has a suspected gas leak close to Yenagoa, the state capital of Bayelsa.
Pipelines that run through the marshy area are run by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company and the Shell Development Company of Nigeria Limited.
But several people asserted that the NAOC owned the facility that was damaged.
A significant amount of gas has been emitted into the atmosphere since Monday night at 11 p.m., according to information obtained by PRIME 9JA ONLINE.
The leak was discharging gas at a very high pressure, and our correspondent on the scene reported that it could be heard more than 300 metres away.
Apart from farms, the area is yet to witness development as there were no residential houses but a newly established church.
The cause of the incident could not be ascertained at the time of filing this report.
But a local, who gave his name as Abraham Ebi, said his brother told him they heard a loud explosion at about 11 pm.
“It occurred around 11 pm. My brother said they heard a loud noise,” he said.
A lawyer and member of the church, who did not want his name in print, described the explosion as that of a detonated dynamite.
He said, “We understand it sounded like a dynamite. It occurred between 11pm and 12 midnight but nobody was there to know what caused it.”
Another church member, who also pleaded for anonymity, said some firm officials were seen filming the scene with their phones.
They said they were afraid that the incident could result in more damage if the gas pressure were not capped soon.