Niger Delta Avengers claim fresh attack on Nigerian oil pipeline

Nigerian militant group Niger Delta Avengers on Tuesday said that it had attacked the Nembe Creek Trunk Line pipeline in the southern Niger Delta.

The group said in a statement that it would continue attacking energy facilities until the “environment prevails for genuine dialogue and negotiations” to end a spate of attacks dating back to January.

“We are only reiterating our firm determination, time is playing against the Nigerian government which is making losses,” the statement added, saying “the Nigerian government needs us more than we need them.”

Neither the government nor the oil company has confirmed the attacks.

The Nigerian government and the group agreed in August to dialogue and to ceasefire and end hostilities.

The ceasefire agreement was broken after the Nigerian military organised raids in the Delta region leading to the death of the father of a fugitive former militant leader.

The group, which is calling for a greater share of Nigeria’s oil wealth to go to the impoverished Delta region, has sabotaged Nigeria’s oil production bringing its yields to a record low.