Niger Delta Avengers Bomb Bonny Pipeline In Rivers

The Niger Delta Avengers say they have bombed the Bonny crude export line in Rivers State, Nigeria’s Niger Delta region.

In a statement on its website, the group said it “brought down oil production activities at the Bonny 48 inches crude oil export line” through its “strike team”.

The militants said the attack was a “wake up call” for the government, which it accused of intimidating youths in the region since the ceasefire began.

The statement, however, added that the organisation was “still in favour of dialogue and negotiations”.

This would be the first attack in Nigeria’s southern energy hub since the Niger Delta Avengers declared in August that it was halting hostilities to pursue talks with the government.

It comes as part of a chain of attack on oil installations by militant groups in Nigeria’s south-south region, which has drastically affected the nation’s economy.

The Niger Delta Avengers have claimed responsibility for most of the attacks on the oil facilities.

They said they expected a genuine and positive attitude to restructuring and self-determination for every component unit of Nigeria.

In an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, written after they agreed to ceasefire, the militants pointed out that they had “listened carefully and halted hostilities” in the region.

However, they claimed that ongoing military operations in the creeks of Ijaw communities were pre-determined genocide in Niger Delta.