Idris Musa, head of the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), said in a statement that the agency on Monday received a report of the fire incidents at the Akaso Wells 14 and 4T Wellheads, two major oil wells operated by Eroton Exploration and Production Limited in the southern state.

Musa said the raging fire had not been put out by the spill control agency, although a situation room was created for effective communication between the affected oil firm and all relevant stakeholders to give a two-hourly update on the incident.

A well-concerted effort is in place to extinguish the blazes, the NOSDRA official said.

According to him, an illegal boat that was suspected to be engaged in oil theft was observed at the location. The boat has been completely burned and the fire on it was extinguished, he added.