A crude oil pipeline owned by Italian oil and gas company, Eni was attacked in the early hours of Friday in Clough-Creek, Bayelsa state.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Confirming the attack, an Eni spokeswoman told news agency that “we can confirm a pipeline, leading to Tebidaba, in the Clough-Creek area has been attacked,” she said.

Eni’s unit, Agip owns the Tebidaba-Brass pipeline, which has been subject to several attacks in recent years.

A statement by MENDS spokesman, Jomo Gbomo stated that “at 0210 AM, fighters of MEND attacked and destroyed one well head and one manifold on trunk lines belonging to Agip “

The statement also warned that “more attacks to follow.”

Attacks in the region have largely reduced since an amnesty was declared for militants in the region in 2009, ending a wave of attacks that cut oil production down by half.

With the amnesty programme thousands of militants gave up their weapons, to join training schemes and provision of monthly stipends. Security sources say remaining gangs in the Niger Delta do not have the capacity to do the damage seen in the past.