Niger Delta Avengers abandons its ceasefire blowing up Chevron pipeline in Escravos

MILITANT group the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) has ended its ceasefire and resumed hostilities with the government bombing a Chevron export pipeline at Escravos in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.

 

Over the last three months, the NDA abandoned its bombing campaign after receiving appeals from Niger Delta stakeholders, who asked it to down weapons and participate in negotiations. Consequently, the militants suspended armed attacks and agreed to sit down and talk but it appears that now exasperated with the slow progress of planned negotiations, the NDA has resumed its campaign.

 

This latest attack on the major pipeline came as a surprise to security forces in the Niger Delta as they had lowered their guard in anticipation of a negotiated peace agreement between the militants and the federal government. According to the NDA, its Strike Team 06 brought down the export pipeline at about 3.45am and it warned all international oil companies not to effect repairs to their bombed facilities pending the negotiations or dialogue with the people of the Niger Delta.

 

NDA spokesperson Mudoch Agbinibo, said: “Today at about 3.45am, our Strike Team 06 took down Chevron Escravos export pipeline at Escravos offshore. This action is to further warn all international oil companies that when we warn that there should be no repairs pending negotiations/dialogue with the people of the Niger Delta, it means there should be no repairs.”

 

He added that the NDA would not allow any attempt to use dialogue to distract it from the struggle, in order to allow the free flow of oil from the region. According to Mr Agbinibo, any attempt to use dialogue to distract them so as to allow the free flow of Niger Delta oil will halt the dialogue process.

 

Fear of resumption of attacks on oil infrastructure in the region was rekindled last Saturday when the NDA broke its silence, warning that only a genuine resolution of the crisis with the region controlling its resources under true federalism will guarantee peace in the area. It said that no amount of military action would stop it from halting the flow of the oil from the region to sustain Nigeria.