Rebel group claims responsibility for Thursday pipeline attack in Nigeria

Attacks on oil facilities in Nigeria still continue even as the government beefs up security around oil fields. The most recent attack happened on Thursday, and the rebel group Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) claimed responsibilty.

The group announced its latest assault, saying it blew up a gas and crude trunk line belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, in Warri, Delta State, late Thursday.

At 11:45pm on Thursday.NDAvengers blew up other #NNPC Gas and Crude trunkline close to Warri. Pipeline that was heavily guarded by Military

— Niger Delta Avengers (NDAvengers) May 27, 2016

The group has launched several attacks on oil and gas infrastructure since February 2016, demanding a sovereign nation of the Niger Delta people.

The Niger Delta stakeholder's meeting is an insult to the people of Niger Delta. What we need is a Sovereign State not pipeline Contracts.

— Niger Delta Avengers (@NDAvengers) May 27, 2016

The group has warned that attacks against Shell and Chevron were “just the beginning”, unless the government meets NDA’s demands.

Nigeria is now pumping less than 1.5 million barrels per day, less than Angola – and well below the 2.2 million barrels-a-day assumed in the 2016 state budget.