Several children reported missing after NNPC pipeline explodes in Akwa Ibom

                                                       Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State

Many children were reported missing on Monday, in Obotim Nsit Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, while trying to escape from a Sunday night explosion at a gas pipeline operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Confirming the pipeline blast, the Akwa Ibom Police Command monday said that there was an explosion at the gas pipeline in the community, but dismissed reports that the incident was caused by the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), which claimed responsibility for the explosion. It was also silent on reports that several children were missing as a result of the blast.


However, the village head of the community, Chief Akponidung Akpan Ukpong, raised the alarm yesterday, stating that several children could not be found after residents were forced to flee from the explosion that occurred late Sunday.