A fire that broke out on an oil pipeline in Abuja, Nigeria last week has seen its death toll rise to 60, Reuters reported Oct. 15.

On Oct. 12, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) reported that there was an oil pipeline fire along the Osisioma axis near Aba Depot in its System 2E pipeline network.

The NNPC said the incident might have been the work of suspected oil thieves who had hacked into the line to intercept the flow of gasoline from Port Harcourt to Aba.

Ndu Ughamadu, NNPC Group General Manager in the Group Public Affairs Division, confirmed there were fatalities Oct. 12 as well as loss of properties in the fire.

Ughamadu said the corporation’s safety experts, along with the Abia State Fire Service, moved swiftly to contain the situation.

Pumping on the pipeline system was halted Friday, but pumping will resume “very soon” Ughamadu told Reuters.source: by  Valerie Jones|Rigzone Staff