Bomb threat: NUPENG raises alarm

Against the backdrop of alleged threat of attack on oil and gas depots and other facilities by the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has called on all Nigerians to join hands for the protection of oil facilities.

In a press statement signed by the General Secretary, Elijah Okougbo, NUPENG said though Nigeria was not in a state of war, the price of liberty was eternal vigilance. He said because of the seriousness of the threat, to the nation's security and economic survival, all Nigerians had been advised to join hands with management and security forces at all oil installations and depots to protect themagainst attacks.

The statemen read: 'Our attention has been drawn to threats by some estranged militants in the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta that they will soon start attacking oil and gas depots and other facilities. You should bear in mind that Nigeria is not in a state of war. However, the price of liberty is eternal vigilance. And according to Socrates 'every citizen is the gadfly of his nation's security.''

However, MEND has denied issuing any threats. In a statement, via email, the spokesperson of the group, Gbomo Jomo, said: 'The Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) denies in its totality the recent warning of an attack on the downstream oil sector. We will be investigating the situation and will take appropriate actions to prevent this from recurring in the future.'