Avengers now in Akwa Ibom, blow up NNPC pipeline

One of the greatest menace to the Nigerian government, Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, who have continued to defile all security checks to attack oil installations in the oil rich region, this morning claimed it has blown up an NNPC pipeline in Akwa Ibom State.

The group twitted, that “At 4:00am @NDAvengers blow up NNPC Pipeline in Oruk Anam local government area in Akwa Ibom.”

The attack which is the first to be carried by the group outside the states of Delta and Bayelsa is coming just a few days after it listed conditions that will make them negotiate with the government.

Last Monday, Muduch Agbinibo, the group’s spokesman said all they required of the Nigerian government is a “genuine attitude” before it would commit to any dialogue, warning against any dealing with some people in the region sponsored by politicians who are masquerading as agitators.

A worrisome aspect of this latest event is that the group is taking the attack on oil installations into a new state from the two states they have been known to operate in; Delta and Bayelsa.

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The addition of Akwa Ibom means the group is now operating in three states and may likely move into Rivers and other states of the Niger Delta region, a move if not curtailed, may be more catastrophic to the nation’s economy.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom, Mr Murtala Mani, speaking to newsmen in Uyo, refuted the attack saying the alleged vandalism was an accident caused by a leakage in the gas pipelines.

He said that it was a technical problem and that some engineers from Port Harcourt were working to rectify the leakage.

Mani said that the state was safe from the activities of the militant group.

The gas pipelines are owned by Seven Energy Company, the operator of Ibom Gas Power Plant, Uquo in Esit-Eket Local Government Area of the state.

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