The people of Azaka, Iguiye and neighbouring communities around the Ovia River in Edo State were thrown into confusion on Friday night by an explosion at a facility of the Nigeria Gas Company (NGC) in the area.
Sources said yesterday that a valve station located around a power line was damaged by the explosion.
The cause of the explosion was not immediately clear yesterday, residents told our reporter that they suspected that it was the handiwork of militants.
“We saw pieces of gas cylinder and other things that might have been used to blow up the station,” one local said.
Mr. Anthony Odoyibo, a farmer in the area, confirmed the report and appealed to Nigerians to give peace a chance.
“We heard a very loud explosion around 10 or or 11pm. Everybody was very afraid. Some people who went there confirmed that it was the pipeline that was blown up,” Odoyibo added.
However, no militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack at the time of this report.