Police: Avengers not behind Akwa Ibom explosion

The Akwa Ibom police command has confirmed that a gas pipeline belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) exploded, but denied that militants were behind the incident.

The Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), the militant group leading attacks on installations, had claimed responsibility for the attack.

Mudoch Agbinibo, spokesman of the group, had said the attack took place in Nsit-Ibom local government area around 11:30pm on Sunday.

But in an interview with NAN, Murtala Mani, the state commissioner of police, confirmed the incident but attributed it 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,” Mani said.

“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.”

The police commissioner, however, said that there was no casualty and no house was destroyed as a result of the explosion.

The commissioner said 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,” he said.

“We are waiting for the experts to give us their reports, so that we can write our report too on the incident.”