Twenty-four hours after issuing a threat, group of militants, in the early hours of Thursday blew up a gas pipeline owned by Shell Oil Company in the oil-rich community of Awara in Ohaji/Egbema Council Area of Imo State. The attack reportedly occurred at about 5:30 a.m.

A Daily Sun report said that the attack was allegedly carried out by a new militant group called the Red Scorpion.

The group had, on Tuesday, served a quit order on all oil companies operating in Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta councils to evacuate the workers and leave the oil communities immediately.

A report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said that the police have confirmed the attack. It quoted the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Andrew Enwerem, as telling journalists in Owerri that the police received report of the attack in the early hours of yesterday.

A spokesman for the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Mr Precious Okolobo, was quoted as saying: “The Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP), which runs through Awara, Imo State at the Assa-Rumuekpe line, has been shut for repairs since June 8, following a leak at Okolo launch, Bonny in Rivers State.

“We are investigating the reported incident at Awara.”

•Photo shows militants.