The Movement for Emancipation of the Niger-Delta (MEND) resumed its attacks on oil pipelines in the region on Saturday when it destroyed trunk line belonging to Italian oil company; ENI in Brass, Bayelsa state.
The militant group in an email described the attack as a “relatively insignificant attack”, but noted that the attack is a “reminder of our presence in the creeks of the Niger Delta and a sign of things to come.”
MEND which has ceased its attacks on oil installations since the amnesty declaration for militants in Niger-delta, was very critical of the federal government and declared that it will “reduce Nigerian oil production to zero and drive off our land, thieving oil companies” at the right time.
It also warned that it will attack investments of South African companies in Nigeria, specifically MTN and SACOIL, for what it described as the “interference of Jacob Zuma-South Africa’s President-in the legitimate fight for justice in the Niger Delta, by its people.”
The spokesperson for ENI on Sunday confirmed the attack on the company’s facility, which had led to the shutdown of some production and interrupted around 4,000 barrels of oil equivalent out of the company’s share of production.
COLLATERAL DAMAGE
However, the media coordinator of Joint Task Force in Bayelsa state, Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Antigha in his reaction to the attack on ENI’s pipeline, stated that “the attack is coming from criminal gangs who want expired amnesty benefits.”
The JTF spokesperson argued that the new attack was staged by people that want to get benefits of amnesty. “Unfortunately, people who were never part of the agitation have emerged and want to claim amnesty and its benefits by force” he said, adding that “it should be noted that it is not possible to run an inelastic amnesty programme.”
Colonel Antigha warned that communities that abhor the militants will not be spared as “there could be collateral damage, if individuals and communities decide to provide sanctuary to the criminals” he stated.
