Nigeria Army averts twin pipeline attacks in Bayelsa State

The Nigerian Army said its troops on Sunday averted attacks on oil pipelines located at Gulobokri and Eweleso community in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa state

The Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col Sani Usman confirmed this in a statement in Abuja, Vanguard online reports.

Usman said the attack was averted by the troops on patrol of the areas around Brass in Bayelsa.

TROOPS AVERT ATTACKS ON OIL PIPELINES AT GULOBOKRI AND EWELESO

— Nigerian Army (@HQNigerianArmy) May 29, 2016

He explained that the team had an encounter with some armed militants in two speed boats with intent to blow up Nigerian Agip oil Company pipeline at Gulobokri.

“In the early hours of today, May 29, troops of 343 Artillery Regiment of 2 Brigade, 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, carried out patrol within the general area of Gulobokri and Eweleso. During the exercise, the troops encountered some armed militants who opened fire on the patrol team,” he said.

Usman reiterated that another patrol team of the same unit of 82 Division, Nigerian Army, averted another attack on an oil facility at Perigbene House Boat in Bayelsa.

He said the troops on patrol to the area encountered militants in three speed boats also on a mission to attack another critical infrastructure in the area.

He assured troops would continue to intensify patrols in the general area to further halt planned attacks on key public infrastructure in the area. The attacks on critical public infrastructure in the Niger Delta region has heightened, in recent times.

However,Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari has announced the revival of the controversial amnesty program for militants in the Niger Delta to stem attacks that have threatened oil production.

The announcement was made in a televised speech marking his first year in office, a turnaround from February this year when his government pledged to end the scheme by 2018.

The recent wave of attacks by militants on oil and gas infrastructure in the Niger Delta put pressure on the government to restore the amnesty program which had been scheduled to end in 2018.