Police parley Akwa Ibom leaders on militants’ threat

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command yesterday met with the state’s stakeholders on how to tackle security challenges.

This followed the threat by the Niger Delta Volunteers (NDV) that it would attack oil platforms and go after those it called “selfish” paramount rulers who connived with oil companies to “siphon” money meant for community development.

The NDV, last week, announced its presence in the state and claimed responsibility for the attack on gas pipeline belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) supplying gas to ALSCON aty Ikot Abasi in the State.

The state government and the police had denied the attack, calling it was a pipeline leakage.

Speaking during the town hall meeting, Police Commissioner Murtala Mani, who chaired the forum, said the essence of the gathering was the volatility of the security environment.

The police chief said there was need for interest groups to work with one uniform agenda in addressing security situation in the state.

He said meaningful development would not take place under insecurity.

According to him, the state and individuals must work together to ensure tight security that will aid the growth of businesses and expansion of the frontiers of leisure.