Militants Bomb Agip, Oando, Shell Trunklines
BEVERLY HILLS, November 15, (THEWILL) – The Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) has claimed it brought down three trunklines in Nembe, Bayelsa State, with supply capacity of 300,000 barrels per day to the Bonny export terminal in Rivers State.
The NDA, in a statement signed by the group's spokesman, Mudoch Aginibo, disclosed that its elite strike team 03 attacked Nembe 1, 2 and 3 trunklines operated by Agip, Oando and Shell at about 11.45p.m on Monday in response to the ongoing naval exercise in the region, particularly in Delta State.
Agbinibo said the attack on the trunkline was to reiterate its strong resolve that time is running against the Nigerian government and “that there is doom ahead.
“At about 11.45p.m. November 15, 2016, our Elite Strike Team 03 struck Nembe 1, 2 and 3 truckline operated by Agip, Oando and Shell with supply capacity of 300,000 barrel per day to Bonny export terminal in Rivers/Bayelsa State,” it read.
“This is in response to the so-called 'Operations Sharkbite,' an art of terrorism inaugurated by the tyranny of the Nigerian Navy establishment and orchestrated by some elements of the ruling political class to continuously undermine any effort by the Nigerian state to addressing the legitimate demands of the people of the Niger Delta and a conspiracy to bloat the accounts of some security contractors and conflict merchants within the party structure of the APC.”
“The Nigerian government needs our cooperation more than we need the government as it concerns the extraction of the crude oil and hydrocarbon resources in our God-given land.
“We are determined to continue this war by all means necessary, until that environment prevails for a genuine dialogue and negotiations within the framework of the 16-point key demands presented to President Buhari by PANDEF on the November 1, 2016.
“We want the peace with honour, we don't want the peace of our time. Since that moment military was drafted into the Niger Delta as an instrument of suppression to our fatherland against all peaceful protest and legitimate demands, the fear had gone. The message is getting stronger with more messengers.”
Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has confirmed the bombing of an oil facility believed to be owned by Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) in Bayelsa State.
The Commandant, Desmond Agu, said he got a report that two explosions rocked the pipelines, noting that his men immediately rushed to the scene only to find out that the Egbikiba pipeline was also attacked.
“We have been arresting suspected vandals in the state and that is why Bayelsa State has been kept safe from major attacks. We had also foiled many attempts in the past to bomb pipelines. We are investigating this matter to bring the culprits to book,” he said.
“We are also warning youths in the state to stop fomenting trouble and to stay away from oil installations. The state and the Niger Delta region need peace to develop.”
Story by Oputah David.