The Niger Delta Avengers on Monday claimed responsibility for the attack on a Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation gas pipeline at Nsit-Ibom council area of Akwa Ibom State.
This was communicated in a statement sent by the spokesperson for the group, Mudoch Agbinibo, who revealed that the facility was blown up at about 11:30pm on Sunday night.
The group asked the NNPC authorities to check their facility whether they will claim if it was ‘system Anomaly’ as Exxon Mobil recently did before later affirming similar attack on their facilities in the state.
The statement read, “11:30pm on Sunday, the NDA blow up Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), gas pipeline at Nsit-Ibom L.G.A, Akwa Ibom state. NNPC should check their pipeline if it’s ‘system Anomaly’.”
Police Confirms NNPC Gas Pipeline Explosion In Akwa Ibom
However, the Akwa Ibom Police Command on Monday confirmed the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Gas pipeline explosion in Obotim Nsit in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom.
The State Commissioner of Police, Murtala Mani, who confirmed the incident in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Uyo, attributed the explosion to a technical fault.
He denied any militant attack on the gas pipeline.
“This is no militancy attack. Our men are on ground and the fire service had put off the fire.
“It is confirmed that there is an explosion in Obotim Nsit in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area of the state.
“People from the pipeline confirmed that the pipelines are old and overdue for servicing. There are technical problems in the gas pipeline,’’ Mani said.
The Police Commissioner, however, said that there was no casualty and no house was destroyed as a result of the explosion.
The commissioner said that his officers and men were on ground, adding that the place was well-condoned.
“Our men are putting finishing touches, our people are completely on ground and the place is well condoned and secured.
“We are waiting for the experts to give us their reports, so that we can write our report too on the incident,’’ Mani said.
NAN reports that similar incident occurred on June 16 at Ikot Osutek in Oruk Anam Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom. (NAN)