Bayelsa Govt. confirms fresh attack on Agip, Aiteo by Niger Delta Avengers
FeaturedNigeria May 28, 2016 Arodiegwu Eziukwu
The Bayelsa government on Saturday condemned the attack on two crude trunk line operated by Aiteo and Agip by new militant group, The Niger Delta Avengers.The militant group had earlier on Saturday claimed responsibility for the pipelines that convey crude to the Bonny and Brass Export terminals from its twitter handle but the claims could not be immediately verified as Agip and the military kept silent over the attacks.
Aiteo, the new owners of one of the lines could not be reached for comments.
Aiteo, had in 2014 acquired the 100kn Nembe trunkline from Shell which SPDC still relies on the line to convey crude to the Bonny Export Terminal from Bayelsa. .
Mr Jonathan Obuebite, Bayelsa Commissioner for Information who confirmed the attack in an email on Saturday afternoon condemned the twin attack described it as one too many.
The blowing up of the trunk line is coming few days after a similar oil facility operated by Chevron was blown up in Delta.
Obuebite lamented the economic impact of destruction of the key oil facility wondered why the militants will go to that extent, knowing fully the economic implication to the state, the Niger Delta region and the country at large.
He observed that despite the concerted efforts of the government to move against such atrocities, the militants are still unrepentant in their acts of vandalism.
Obuebite urged the group to embrace dialogue rather than the current approach to register their grievances.
He noted that the activities of the group adversely affects affect our people who reside in those areas affected by oil spill from the vandalized pipelines.
The Commissioner also called on security agents to be more alert and to devise new means to protect very important oil and gas facilities in order to prevent further destructions
Obuebite equally urged Bayelsa residents, especially those in oil communities to be very vigilant and work closely with security agents to apprehend anyone or group attempting to undermine key national assets.
Arodiegwu Eziukwu
