A gas pipeline in the Utorogun oil fields was blown up by unidentified criminals on Saturday.
This is the first time such attack was carried out on a Shell-operated Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) Compressor station transporting compressed gas to Delta Steel Company (DSC), Aladja, at a spot bounding Otughievwen, Udu and Oghior communities.
Sunday Independent’s attempt to get a glimpse of the shattered spot was resisted by a team of armed guards of the Joint Task Force (JTF) who cordoned off the spot, denying access to travellers on the Jeremi-Ukpiovwin Road.
Also, farmers were barred from moving into the vicinity for farming activities.
Explaining reasons behind the movement restriction around the area, a Shell personnel on site, who pleaded anonymity, told residents that aside the health risk with the gas emitted, preliminary investigations revealed that unspent dynamites with control wires are still planted on the spot and it was best for the security experts to sweep the spot to clear further likely dangers before free movement could be guaranteed around the spot.
A group with the identity, Ughievwen Youth Body Fighters, reportedly left a banner and flyers claiming responsibility for the pipe damage to raise perceived grievances and demands on government and the oil companies in the area.
The leaflets, signed by certain Idi-Amin and Ogigi as leaders, also claimed responsibility for the failed attack on the Utorogun Gas Plant earlier this year, adding that Saturday’s attack was one of more to follow until they are given N150 million for relatives of their allies killed during the gas plant attack, just as they demanded for massive development of the Ughievwen kingdom.
A twisted tone to the message of the attackers is the realisation that their written protest is directed to Agip Oil Company, which maintains no operational facility or presence anywhere in Otughievwen or Ughievwen kingdom at large.