Many children are reported missing after the Niger Delta Avengers blew up a gas pipeline belonging to the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in Obotim Nsit community in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State on Sunday, July 24.

Since then parents in the area cannot find their children who they said were trying to escape from the night explosion and did not come home.

Chief Akponidung Akpan Ukpong, the village head of the community, commented on the incident: “So many children are missing and we are still looking for them; we have not traced them and many people were taken to the hospital.”

Ukpong also complained about seriously damaged farm lands.

Meanwhile, police said there was no casualty or property destruction.

Mr. Murtala Mani, the state commissioner of police, attributed the explosion to technical faults and excluded the militants’ attack.

Mr. Victor Umondak, the transition committee chairman of Nsit Ibom, on his part, has insisted on alleged militants involvement.

Mr. Mani said: “It is confirmed that there is an explosion in Obotim Nsit in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area of the state. People from the pipeline confirmed that the pipelines are old and overdue for servicing. There is technical problems in the gas pipeline. This is no militancy attack; our men are on ground and the fire service has put off the fire.”

•Adapted from an Independent report. Photo shows burning pipeline after an explosion.