Militants, suspected to be members of the Niger Delta Avengers, on Friday
morning, attacked and destroyed pipelines belonging to the Nigerian
Agip Oil Company in Bayelsa State. The militants reportedly struck at
between 3am and 5am and blew up Nembe 1, 2, 3 and Tebedaba Brass
trunk-line in Bayelsa.
They were said to have arrived the affected areas on speedboats with two
double 200 horsepower engines. The militants, it was learnt, allegedly
engaged the operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil De fence Corps,
Bayelsa State Command, in a gunbattle when they tried to stop them.
morning, attacked and destroyed pipelines belonging to the Nigerian
Agip Oil Company in Bayelsa State. The militants reportedly struck at
between 3am and 5am and blew up Nembe 1, 2, 3 and Tebedaba Brass
trunk-line in Bayelsa.
They were said to have arrived the affected areas on speedboats with two
double 200 horsepower engines. The militants, it was learnt, allegedly
engaged the operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil De fence Corps,
Bayelsa State Command, in a gunbattle when they tried to stop them.
The attacks were said to have occurred at Goulubukori manifold in
Nembe and Lagosgbene pipeline in Southern Ijaw near Ekeremor area of Bayelsa.
A source, who spoke on condition of
anonymity, said a speedboat operated by NSCDC tried to dislodge the
militants to save the pipelines.
“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
leaving,” the source said. But another source from Agip, who did
not want his name mentioned, described the attackers as “heavily
armed youths”.
He identified the damaged pipeline as the Tebidaba-Brass Agip pipeline,
saying that the facility was destroyed at three different points.
He said, “Reports from the swamp area indicate that last night and early hours
of Friday morning, a gang of heavily armed youths with two double 200hp
speedboats used explosives to destroy three different points on the Tebidaba-
Brass Agip pipelines.”
He further said Agip was about carrying out an operation to confirm
the affected areas and the magnitude of damage done to the pipelines. It was learnt that
Nembe and Lagosgbene pipeline in Southern Ijaw near Ekeremor area of Bayelsa.
A source, who spoke on condition of
anonymity, said a speedboat operated by NSCDC tried to dislodge the
militants to save the pipelines.
“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
leaving,” the source said. But another source from Agip, who did
not want his name mentioned, described the attackers as “heavily
armed youths”.
He identified the damaged pipeline as the Tebidaba-Brass Agip pipeline,
saying that the facility was destroyed at three different points.
He said, “Reports from the swamp area indicate that last night and early hours
of Friday morning, a gang of heavily armed youths with two double 200hp
speedboats used explosives to destroy three different points on the Tebidaba-
Brass Agip pipelines.”
He further said Agip was about carrying out an operation to confirm
the affected areas and the magnitude of damage done to the pipelines. It was learnt that
the impacted areas were raging with fire and thick smoke while crude oil spilled from the
ruptured pipeline was spreading around the environment.
The Commandant, NSCDC, Bayelsa Command, Mr. Desmond Agu,
confirmed the incident. Agu, who said his men exchanged
gunfire with the attackers, urged youths to stop destroying their
environment in the name of agitation.
He noted that any attack on a pipeline was an attack on the future survival of
the region.
The Commandant stated, “We are not relenting because we have the
mandate to protect all critical assets of the government within our areas of responsibility.
“We are asking troublemakers to leave the creeks and embrace peace. There
is no alternative to peace because without it there will be no development.”
ruptured pipeline was spreading around the environment.
The Commandant, NSCDC, Bayelsa Command, Mr. Desmond Agu,
confirmed the incident. Agu, who said his men exchanged
gunfire with the attackers, urged youths to stop destroying their
environment in the name of agitation.
He noted that any attack on a pipeline was an attack on the future survival of
the region.
The Commandant stated, “We are not relenting because we have the
mandate to protect all critical assets of the government within our areas of responsibility.
“We are asking troublemakers to leave the creeks and embrace peace. There
is no alternative to peace because without it there will be no development.”
The Niger Delta Avengers claimed responsibility for the bombing of the Agip pipelines on Friday.
In a statement from the NDA site, its spokesperson, ‘Brig.-Gen.’ Mudoch
Agbinibo, said, “At about 3am and 5am the Niger Delta Avengers blew up
Nembe 1, 2, 3 and Tebedaba Brass trunk-line in Bayelsa/River States.
“We are using this medium to warn the general public of impostors Facebook
accounts. Niger Delta Avenger is not in social network anymore.”
The group has claimed responsibilities for almost all the attacks on pipelines
and oil installations in the area.
In a statement from the NDA site, its spokesperson, ‘Brig.-Gen.’ Mudoch
Agbinibo, said, “At about 3am and 5am the Niger Delta Avengers blew up
Nembe 1, 2, 3 and Tebedaba Brass trunk-line in Bayelsa/River States.
“We are using this medium to warn the general public of impostors Facebook
accounts. Niger Delta Avenger is not in social network anymore.”
The group has claimed responsibilities for almost all the attacks on pipelines
and oil installations in the area.
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