By Dipo Olowookere
The search for crude oil in the Chad Basin has been suspended by the Federal Government following attacks by suspected Boko Haram members, which led to death of some explorers.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr Ibe Kachikwu, who announced the suspension during a chat with newsmen, said oil exploration would return in the area as soon as government was sure of safety of lives and properties.
Mr Kachikwu, who declined to confirm actual number of casualty, disclosed that the military was still collating data concerning the attack.
He described the incident as unfortunate and commiserated with families of those killed while searching for oil in the area in Borno State.
Borno State, for many years, has been very volatile due to activities of Boko Haram members, who carry out different bomb attacks.
On Tuesday, the terrorists group attacked members of the Frontier Exploration Services/Surface Geochemistry sampling team comprising Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Consultants from University of Maiduguri, military and civilian escort in the Magumeri area of Borno State.
The team was ambushed by Boko Haram while returning to Maiduguri town after conducting survey mapping/geological study of part of the Lake Chad Basin in preparation for seismic activities.
Adedapo Adesanya