By; Patrick Titus, Uyo.
The Akwa Ibom State Government has cleared the air over rumours making rounds in social media in the state alleging the bombing of pipeline in Ikot Osute, Oruk Anam local government area of the state, saying the rumours lack truth.
Information and Communications Commissioner in the state, Mr. Aniekan Umana in a statement in Uyo said that, what happened was an eruption caused by leakage in the aging pipeline of the Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) which passed through the area.
Umana after visiting the site of the bombing said, “There is no iota of truth in the claims making rounds in the social media. What happened was an eruption occasioned by leakage in the old pipeline of the Nigerian Gas Company, NGC, which traversed the area.”
According to him, “No pipeline has been bombed in Akwa Ibom State. Those peddling such rumours are ignorant of the true situation in the affected area.”
“As at Thursday morning, when security operatives and officials of the State Government visited Ikot Osute, the State Ministry of Environment, NGC personnel and other gas companies operating in the area were on site, working round the clock to ensure safety in the area,” he stressed.
The state’s image maker however enjoined the people of the state and indeed Nigerians who may have been troubled by the rumours to remain calm and go about their businesses as government was committed to protecting lives and property of all citizens in the State. He assured that security agents have cordoned off the area to forestall against any eventuality.
Meanwhile, the state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in its resolutions at this month congress in Uyo, called on the state government to strengthen security surveillance within the state to forestall any unpleasant attack in the state.
The Union’s decision followed the alleged threat by some militant groups in the Niger Delta Region to bomb all oil pipelines in the region, saying that if such development took place, it would bring serious adverse effect on the development of the state, and indeed the people.
According to the Congress, “A stitch in time, it is always said, saves nine,” Akwa Ibom state yearns for development, therefore anything capable of negating the stride and vision of the state governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel to raise the living standard of the people through industrialisation should be guard against.”
