The Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), Thursday morning, claimed to have blown up another pipeline managed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

However, the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, Mr Murtala Mani, on Thursday, refuted the alleged explosion of pipelines at Ikot Osutek, in Oruk-Anam Local Government Area of the state by the NDA.

According to the Avengers, who tweeted at about 7.00 a.m. on Thursday, the pipeline was blown up at 4.00 a.m.

“At 4:00am @Niger Delta Avengers blow up NNPC Pipeline in Oruk Anam Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom.”

The destruction is coming, despite the ceasefire offered by the government to ensure dialogue with the militants.

Mani, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Uyo, said the alleged vandalism was an accident caused by a leakage in the gas pipelines.

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

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

NAN reports that 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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