Akpabio Attributes Disasters In S’South To Oil Exploration

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio says the oil exploitation and exploration in the South South zone of the country is responsible for the post-natural man-made disasters witnessed in the zone.

Governor Akpabio stated this while declaring open the 2nd South South emergency management summit in Uyo, capital of the state.

The governor represented by his deputy called on all governors in the South South to come together to develop holistic measures in tackling disasters in the zone.

Meanwhile, controversy is trailing  alleged claim by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) that it attacked a crude oil pipeline operated by an Italian oil company, Eni.

MEND’s spokesman, Gbomo Jomo in a statement on the internet said the attack was carried out Friday at Tebitaba in Clough Creek in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

In his comment on the incident, the spokesman of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF), Lt. Col. Onyema Nwachukwu denied the attack, saying that they were not aware of any report about the attack.

He said the JTF had not been involved in any attack involving any oil installation.

But an official of the company reportedly confirmed the attack.