The Bayelsa State Government has strongly condemned the vandalism of the Ogboinbiri/Obiobi 24-inch gas pipeline, located between Angiama and Angiamagbene in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, describing it as an act of “criminal damage.” In a statement issued on Friday, the Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Mrs. Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, said the government views the incident as a serious act of economic sabotage that will not be tolerated. Although the statement did not identify the owner of the pipeline, sources suggest it is the Ogboinbiri/OB-OB gas pipeline, previously operated by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company. Efforts to confirm this through local sources were unsuccessful due to poor network reception in Yenagoa. Koku-Obiyai added that the government is collaborating with security agencies to track down those responsible. She also emphasized that safeguarding national infrastructure is a shared duty and urged citizens to report any suspicious activity to the authorities, noting that damage to such assets results in economic losses for the nation. The statement stated: “Government is working closely with security agencies to apprehend those responsible and prevent future occurrences. “The public should note that the protection of national assets is a collective responsibility, and we urge all citizens to be vigilant and report any suspicious activities around public assets to the law enforcement agencies. “The damage to public assets not only results in revenue loss to federal, state, and local governments but also poses grave environmental dangers. Exposure to natural gas and petrochemicals can constitute significant health challenges to citizens. “We urge the youth in the state to resist the temptation to engage in destructive activities and instead work with the administration to sustain peace and protect public infrastructure. Together, we can achieve the prosperity agenda of the government and develop infrastructure to attract investment. “Let us work together to ensure the safety and security of our public assets and prevent future occurrences of economic sabotage.”