A
crude oil delivery line belonging to the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company
and crossing Afiesere-Iwhrenene communities in Ughelli North Council Area of
Delta State has been blown up by suspected militants.
A
militant group, the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate, claimed
responsibility for the attack which occurred at about 1am on Tuesday.
The
spokesperson for the militant group, Aldo Agbalaja, confirmed the development
in a statement.
The
attack took place at a local community called Afiesere.
The
sources, who were part of the community surveillance team that had gone to
search for the spot where the breach occurred, noted that the incident had
resulted in a massive spill into farmlands.
One
of the sources, who identified himself as Tobore, said that the attack was not
carried out through detonative devices but rather with saw machine.
According
to him, the delivery line had only been reopened for operation last weekend by
NPDC officials, after it was bombed some months ago.
As
of 5:25pm on Tuesday, the pipeline was still spilling crude into the farms
situated around the area.
A
military source, who pleaded not to be mentioned, also confirmed the attack .
But
the group, called Greenland, threatened further attacks. It disclosed that the
Tuesday attack was carried out as part of ‘Operation Crocodile Tears’, a
planned series of attacks on oil facilities which it declared earlier.
It
said, “As a mark of our faith to totally ground the Nigerian oil economy, the
gallant “Opudo” strike forces brought down the Afiesere- Iwhrenene major
delivery line in Ughelli North, leading to the UPS/UQCC operated by
NPDC/SHORELINES at about 1am today, September 13, 2016.
“The
Niger Delta is not a conquered territory and our people have never succumbed to
intimidation before, rather we match force with the oppressor’s brutality.
“The
Nigerian government should already know that the people of this part are not
fools, who will not be able to see when they are being treated with disdain.”
The
militant group reiterated its call to those living and working around oil companies
within the upland region of the Niger Delta to vacate such premises to avoid
being injured during attacks.
Warning
that it was running out of patience with such people, the group said, “For the
last time, leave these areas if you love your lives.”
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