A pipeline of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) in Kurutie, Warri South West Local Government area of Delta State and an ENI AGIP pipeline in Bayelsa Stae were in ruins yesterday after the latest in the long list of sabotage acts by Niger Delta militants.
The NPDC pipeline was attacked on Thursday evening and the AGIP trunk line early yesterday.
The Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) claimed responsibility for the Bayelsa sabotage, boasting on its twitter handle: “It is AGIP’s major crude oil line in Bayelsa State.”
The two attacks came despite the deployment of military personnel to the creeks of Warri and other parts of the Bayelsa/Delta states axis of the Niger Delta and the peace initiative of the federal government to enable dialogue with the militant groups.
The Avengers had earlier disowned anybody or group purportedly discussing on their behalf with the Federal Government, adding, “If the Federal Government is discussing with any group they are doing that on their own.”
They also have blown up installations of Dutch-British Shell and U.S.-based oil company Chevron, halving the country’s production to about 1.2 million barrels a day.
Itsekiri youth leader and activist, Chief Ayirimi Emami, had faulted the quick withdrawal of troops from the waterways despite lack of firm commitment from the militant groups and vulnerability of oil assets.
It was gathered that the Federal Government’s delegation is being led by Petroleum Resources Minister Ibe Kachikwu while a former consultant to the Delta State Government is representing the militants at the talks.
Oil industry sources in the area are blaming the escalating attacks on the failure of the security operatives, particularly men of the Nigerian Navy, to man and secure the waterways around vital oil installations and platforms in the areas.
Several sources told our reporter that the military operations in the region before the ceasefire by the FG had also failed to curb attacks because they were more reactional than proactive.
The view is shared by security experts, oil workers and community leaders in the region, who lamented that military operations have mainly focused on communities rather than protection of the facilities and restricting the masterminds.
One of the sources who spoke with our reporter from Escravos confirmed hearing a “loud bang that shook everywhere” on Thursday night.
“We later found that it was a manifold that was bombed, and as I am talking to you now, no security operatives have visited the site of the attack. We are talking about over 12 hours ago.
“Behind us here is a strategic NGC facility (location withheld), which is left unprotected and with easy access for anybody. These are the kind of places that the JTF and the Navy should be providing cover to, but they are not doing it.
“When you hear that more troops were deployed to the creeks, did it stop the attacks? No, because the troops were mostly interested in going to communities in Gbaramatu, not to secure facilities.
“As a result, while they are focusing on communities, the militants are bombing oil installations.
“Are you not surprised that despite the advance notices the security operatives get, the attacks continue and nothing is coming out of the so-called arrests that they have been making? So where is the breakthrough?” our source queried.
An Ijaw leader, Chief Favour Izoukumor, had earlier advised the Federal Government to invest in intelligence gathering, noting that what led to the renewed attacks had been subject of rumour and murmurs in the past.
His words: “I believe that before anything will happen, the people would have been talking; like all those expression of annoyance and things like that. This is information that neutral persons could have gathered as information and make a genuine recommendation.
“The country cannot always be left to situations that will leave it to suddenly shock Nigerians and the international community.
“The reason this has continued to happen is because we do not have an effective intelligence gathering system. It is not effective enough.
“I am using this opportunity to call on the President to invest more on the agencies responsible for intelligence gathering.
“Once theintelligence gathered is accurate, you will always get the right information when looking for Avengers or pipeline vandals and then be able to take the appropriate steps.”
Meanwhile, Itsekiri youth leader and activist, Chief Ayirimi Emami hinted that the Federal Government might have made a tactical blunder by withdrawing troops from the creeks before security assurance that such move would halt the attacks.
Reacting to Thursday night’s attack, Chief Emami said the Federal Government succumbed to “cheap blackmail and propaganda by the militants who accuse the military of pillaging communities.
“I don’t support the military molesting and maiming innocent citizens, but I think the Federal Government ought to do its job and not succumb to the cheap blackmail and propaganda that led to the withdrawal of troops from the waterways because that has led to more attacks.
“Government should not be swayed by some individuals whose only interest is enriching themselves from the militancy and destruction of oil facilities and terrorism in the name of agitation,” he added.
