The Federal Government’s effort to increase the country’s local crude oil refining capacity suffered a setback on Friday as the newly formed Niger Delta militia group, the Niger Delta Avengers, blew up pipelines supplying the Warri and Kaduna refineries.
The latest attack came about 24 hours after the militant group blew up Chevron’s platform at Escravos.
The Niger Delta Avengers said the attacks were in keeping with its threat to wreak havoc on the country’s economy by blowing up oil and gas pipelines.
In a statement by its spokesperson, Mudoch Agbinibo, the group claimed responsibility for blowing up “crude line feeds that links Warri and Kaduna refineries respectively”.
It also claimed to have damaged the gas line that feeds the Lagos and Abuja electricity power supply.
“With this development, the Warri and Kaduna refineries will be shut down and all cities that depend on the gas line for power will all be in total darkness like the creeks of the Niger Delta”, the Avengers added.
The group recalled that on Thursday, its Strike Team 7 blew up Well D25 in Abiteye – a major gas facility owned by multinational oil company, Chevron.
It said the team also blew up major pipelines in Alero, Dibi, Otunana and Makaraba flow stations, which feed the Chevron tank farm, putting it out of operation.
The destruction has crippled Chevron’s operations in the Niger Delta.
The group boasted that it is undeterred by heavy military presence in the area, noting that it carried out the bombing about 100meters away from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipeline, where a military houseboat is stationed to protect the pipelines.
“We want you public to know that despite the heavy presence of military operatives, our activities can’t stop and it just waste of funds and time to let the Nigerian military protect oil installations”, the group bragged.
The statement also warned the people of the Niger Delta, especially those who speak out against its activities, to desist or risk incurring the wrath of the Avengers.
“This is a clear warning to all Niger Delta politicians, traditional rulers, community leaders and the likes of Tompolo to mind their business and leave the liberation of the Niger Delta people to the Avengers. Those who believe taking sides with the federal government to fight Niger Delta is the best option, Avengers are here on the ground. Neither you nor the federal government can stop us. If you don’t stay clear and let us carry out our activities, we will bring the fight to your individual doorsteps. Our major goal is to cripple the Nigeria economy”, the group warned.
It also called on all Niger Deltans to attack oil installations in their communities, urging them to see the war as theirs.
God dey. Agbinibo and his entire group will soon meet the distruction of Almighty God. The way they distroy our pipe line,so God will distroy them;the way they keep they will ever remain in the dark and will never no peace. We belive in the oneness . Because opersonnal interest you want to distroy Nigeria; God will distroy you all.