BREAKING: “Victory Is Ours”, Says Niger Delta Avengers As NNPC Pipeline Is Blown Up

 

Suspected militant group attacked a gas pipeline in the Niger Delta, breaking a fragile truce between them and the government, an oil company spokesman told Agence France-Presse Tuesday.

The attack on a pipeline operated by the Nigerian Gas Company Limited, a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), took place on Saturday near Sanomi creek, close to the oil hub of Warri in Delta state.

“It has been confirmed, even by the community people, that it was a third-party sabotage,” said Nigeria Gas Company spokesman Violin Antaih.

“If you have a picture of the blast, you will know too well that was exactly what happened because the pipeline was cut into two. A ruptured pipeline will not have such effect.”

The attack is the first on Nigeria’s oil and gas infrastructure in months and takes place amid ongoing negotiations between Niger Delta leaders and President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.

In a cryptic tweet on Tuesday morning, the spokesman of the Niger Delta Avengers wrote “la vittoria è nostra” (Italian for “victory is ours”).

The Nigerian military said it was investigating.

“I am aware of the incident and we are on top of it. A committee has been set up to unravel the circumstance,” Joint Task Force Commander Apochi Suleiman said.

“We will see at the end of the day.”

Ecobank energy analyst Dolapo Oni said the apparent attack was “worrying” at a time when Nigeria was wrestling to exit a recession.

“This is probably a statement of intent, saying, ‘look, we can come back’,” he said. “It looks like a warning signal.”