JTF, Bayelsa residents debunk reported militants’ attack on Conoil pipeline

Military and community sources in Bayelsa have described some
media reports of militants’ attack on an oil pipeline in Koluama 1,
Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state as “fake
news.”

Nairalaw had reported that a militant group blew up a
pipeline within Conoil’s oilfield near the Atlantic coastline in
Koluama 1 settlement.

Maj. Ibrahim Abdullahi, Spokesman of the Joint Military Task
Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta, condemned the reports in an
interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in
Yenagoa.

Abdullahi described the reports as a hoax and the handiwork of
mischief makers aimed at misinforming the public.
“After exhaustive verifications following enquiries from media
practitioners, we found out that no such incident happened.

“We enjoin the media to crosscheck their facts before rushing to
the press to avoid publishing falsehood such as this report,”
Abdullahi said.
Also, James Dou, a resident of the area told NAN on phone that
Koluama 1 had been peaceful since the New Year with the joint
military task force frequently patrolling the waterways.

“I am in Koluama 1 as we speak and there is no report of any
attack on Conoil or any oil facility nearby. I did not hear any
explosion neither did I hear anyone discuss it,” Dou said.

Mr Mathew Sele-Epri, a community leader in Koluama 1 and
Chairman, KEFFES Rural Development Board, said the report was
false.

“There is no such incident. If it happened I should have known.
I have made contact with my people back home and there is nothing
like that; it is fake news,” the community leader said. (NAN)