Count us of pipeline rupture, says Gbaramatu traditional council
The Gbaramatu traditional council has exonerated itself from Nigeria Gas Company (NGC) pipeline rupture, stating that it may have been caused by equipment failure.
The assistant secretary of the council, Chief Godspower Gbenekama, made the assertion while reacting to the occurrence, while faulting claims by the NGC that the gas pipeline may have ruptured due to third party interference.
“The Gbaramatu people have no reasons whatsoever to bridge or destroy any pipeline or government facilities in its domain.
“The pipeline may have ruptured due to equipment failure or by our enemies. We smell rat here,” he stressed.
Gbenekama noted that the NGC did not carry the Traditional Council along when it embarked on inspection exercise of the ruptured gas pipeline which is situated few meters away from Camp 5 near the biggest military base in the Niger Delta particularly in Benikrukru Community, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State.
He explained that the gas pipeline ruptured at the same time when the military was testing weapons along the waterways thereby causing serious tension within the area.
“Nobody, not even the militants have claimed responsibility for the ruptured pipeline. The Gbaramatu people have no reason to bridge or destroy government facilities,” he posited.
Gbenekama expressed fears that some unknown persons may have ruptured the gas pipeline especially now that the Nigeria Maritime University has been approved just to scuttle the whole process.
