Avengers Blow Up Three Oil Facilities In Bayelsa

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Three oil facilities operated by three multi-national oil firms in Bayelsa State have been blown up by members of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) militant group.

Spokesman of th group, Mr Mudoch Agbinibo, disclosed in a statement on Tuesday that the latest attack occurred at the Nembe 1, 2 and 3 trunk line which is jointly operated by Agip, Oando and Shell Petroleum Development Company.

According to Mr Agbinibo, “At about 11.45pm November 15, 2016, our elite Strike Team 03 struck Nembe 1, 2 and 3 truck line operated by Agip, Oando and Shell with supply capacity of 300,000 barrel per day to Bonny export terminal in Bayelsa State.”

“This is in response to the so-called “Operations Sharkbite,” an art of terrorism commissioned by the tyranny of the Nigerian Navy establishment and orchestrated by some elements of the ruling political class to continuously undermine any effort by the Nigerian state to addressing the legitimate demands of the people of the Niger Delta and as well a conspiracy to bloat the accounts of some security contractors and conflict merchants within the party structure of the APC.

“We are only reiterating our strong resolve that, time is running against the Nigerian government, that there is doom ahead. The Nigerian government needs our cooperation more than we need the government as it concerns the extraction of the crude oil and hydrocarbon resources in our God-given land.

“We are determined to continue this war by all means necessary, until that environment prevails for a genuine dialogue and negotiations within the framework of the 16- point key demands presented to President Muhammadu Buhari by PANDEF on the 1st of November 2016.

 “We want the peace with honour, we do not want the ‘peace of our time’. Since that moment military was drafted into the Niger Delta as an instrument of suppression to our fatherland against all peaceful protest and legitimate demands, the fear had gone. The message is getting stronger with more messengers,” he added.

The group had earlier explained that it was forced to resume attacks due to the government’s insincerity in negotiating a peace deal.