Militants blow up oil wells

 

                                           explosion 

Militants have attacked two major oil facilities in Delta State, it was learnt yesterday.

They are RMP23 and RMP24, operated by oil giant Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), at the Opia/Ikia axis of the Dibi/ Olero oil fields in Egbema Kingdom of Warri North council area.

The militant group, Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), in early morning tweets, claimed responsibility for the destruction of the facilities, bragging about how the reported deployment of heavy military equipment to the Niger Delta had failed to curtail its strikes.

“With the heavy presence of 100 gunboats, four warships and jet bombers, NDA blew up Chevron oil well RMP23 and RMP24 at 3:44 am this morning. This is to show the whole world that Nigerian military is good in harassing innocent civilians. RMP23 and RMP24 are Chevron’s swamp highest producing wells,” the group said in three tweets.

Although the tweets, through the insurgent group’s regular handle NDAvengers did not specify where the attacks were carried out, sources told The Nation that the attacks were in Warri North council area. These are the first incidents in Egbema Kingdom and outside Gbaramatu Kingdom.

Confirming the development in a telephone conversation in Warri yesterday, a source told The Nation that the incident occurred between 3:15am and 4:45am, adding that there was no gunfight between the insurgents and security operatives.

“It was in Warri North, Egbema Kingdom, at Opia/Ikia axis, around Dibi/Olero. It started from around 3:15 till around 4:45 this morning. There was no shootout heard,” the source, who did not want his name mentioned, said.

The Secretary of the Egbema/ Gbaramatu Foundation, Jude Ukori, described the development as “most unfortunate”, saying Egbema Kingdom would never subscribe to violence such tactics, as being used by the insurgents. He pleaded with the militants to stop the attacks.

Ukori said: “I heard there was a blowout this morning, but I am yet to get the details. We want to appeal to those behind these activities to desist. Egbema is not home to militancy and we don’t want to be part of it. We have always being cooperative with security agencies, but we are not security agents and we do not have what it takes to face whoever is behind this destruction; we can only appeal for peace.”