N/Avengers Extend Attacks on Oil Facilities to Rivers, Bayelsa

Members of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), in the early hours of yesterday, took their destruction of oil installations to Bayelsa and Rivers States, blasting Nembe 1,2, 3, and Tebedaba brass trunk line.

They also destroyed pipelines belonging to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC).

Meanwhile, the Itsekiri Movement for Peace and Justice has said the federal government's indecision in dealing with the crisis was inciting another ethnic crisis in the hardest hit Warri South West Local Government area of Delta state.

Security sources told THISDAY that the militants attacked the trunkline in two speed boats with 500 horsepower engines that facilitated their escape.

He said the militant had easy access to the facilities following the scaling down of military presence in the region in line with President Muhammadu Buhari's directive.

"Those hoodlums stormed the Nember 1,2,3 and Tebidaba trunkline in two speed boats powered with 500 horsepower engines. This facilitated their speedy escape from the scene. There is nothing the military can do about it because they have been ordered to scale down their presence in the creeks", the security source said.

The Niger Delta Avengers has, however, claimed responsibility for that attack in its website signed by its Spokesperson, Mudoch Agbinibo.

"At about the (hour) of 3am to 5am the Niger Delta Avengers blowup Nembe 1, 2, 3 and Tebedaba brass trunk-line in Bayelsa/River States", it claimed in the statements title "NDA Hit Again", they said.

The source noted that there were other attacks at Goulubukori manifold in Nembe axis and Lagosgbene pipeline in Southern Ijaw close to Ekeremor areas of the state, but could not confirm if the pipelines were blown up by the NDA.

According to the source who did not want his name in print, a speedboat operated by NSCDC tried to dislodge the militants to save the pipelines, but were repelled by the heavy arms used by the militants.

"The NSCDC engaged the saboteurs in a gun battle. There was a heavy exchange of gunfire between them. But the militants were heavily armed and many in number. They ensured that they destroyed the pipelines before zooming off," he said.