A group of armed men believed to be cultists have blown up a gas facility in Akala Olu village, Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State for the arrest and continued detention of a suspect, Mr. Emmanuel Odum.
The attack on the gas facility, according to a statement signed by the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 2 Brigade in Port Harcourt, Captain Eli Lazarus, disrupted production activities of the Nigeria Agip Oil Company.
The suspected cultists believed to be members of Icelander cult group had demanded the release of Odum, who was said to be currently undergoing interrogation for his alleged involvement in pipeline vandalisation and cult-related activities.
The statement issued in Port Harcourt on Monday indicated that the vandals and suspected cultists had also threatened to carry out further attacks on oil and gas installations unless their demands were met.
“In the early hours of Sunday February 7, 2016, pipeline vandals destroyed a gas facility in Akala Olu village in Oshie community, Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State, thereby disrupting the production activities of Nigeria Agip Oil Company.
“The vandals threatened to carry out further acts of vandalism unless their demands are met. The vandals are suspected members of Icelander cult group.
“The group demanded for the release of a detained suspect; one Mr. Emmanuel Odum currently undergoing interrogation in connection with pipeline vandalism and cult related activities,” the statement from the 2 Brigade read.
It, however, warned that that it would not be intimidated into doing the bidding of any group of criminals, cautioning that the Nigerian Army will deal with anybody caught vandalising the nation’s pipelines.
It observed that politicians were arming the cult groups and encouraging them with inciting utterances capable of breaching the peace, adding that the Army would not hesitate to deal with such politicians.
