Again, militants blow up pipelines in Delta state

Youths suspected to be members of Urhobo Gbagbako, a militant group in Delta state, blew up gas pipelines in Ighwrenene community in Ughelli north local government area of the state on Thursday.

The incident, which is the second in four months, left the community in panic mode.

The affected pipelines are major gas trunk lines belonging to the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) and officials have said the damage could lead to shortage of gas supply nationwide.

A resident of the community said officials of the NPDC and Delta state fire service had difficulties in putting out the fire.

Journalists could not access the location due to its waterlogged nature.

Fire fighters were also helpless, as their trucks and vans were stuck kilometers away from the point of the explosion.

An NPDC official, who did not want to be named, lamented the difficulty encountered in accessing the location.

“We are making attempts to switch off supply to the line, but till that happens, we are helpless and can’t gain access to the point of explosion owing to the flooded terrain of the road,” he said.

“This one of the major NPDC’s pipelines. This havoc would be felt nationwide because of shortage of gas supply.”

Ugo Atugboko, NPDC’s external relations manager, said he could not comment on the development, instead pleading for more time to gather more information.

Also, efforts to reach Ohi Alegbe, group general manager, public affairs of NNPC, did not yield result. Calls and text messages sent to his line were not acknowledged.

Urhobo Gbagbako has claimed responsibility for similar attacks in recent times.