Just when we thought this was all over and planning to start up something good in the aspect of the country's oil production insurgence, militants in the Niger Delta region, Ughelli to be precise have arose again with their onslaught on oil installations in the area as they blow up the Chevron Valve Platform in Abiteye, Warri North council area of the state.
The incident was said to have occurred at about 10:40 pm on Wednesday night. Though the company’s Public Affairs Manager, Deji Haastrup could not be reached for comments on the incident, on official of the Department of Security Services, who spoke on anonymity, confirmed the incident adding that the platform was totally destroyed with the use of dynamites. The security source further hinted that the platform is a major connecting point where all other platforms link up and serves as the main point to chevron's BOP and the Chevron Tank farm thereby halting all operations of the company in the region. Claiming responsibility for the incident, the Niger Delta Avengers, a militant group in the region in a statement on Wednesday night, while attributing the incident to the effort of its strike Team 6, stated that attack on the facility is in line with its promise to the Nigerian government to cripple the economy. The group which had earlier claimed responsibility for destroying the Forcados 48-inch Export Pipeline, also threatened to attack oil facilities in Lagos and Abuja, the nation’s capital.
They were reported to have said: “We want to pass this message to the all international oil companies operating in the Niger Delta that the Nigeria Military can’t protect their facilities. They should talk to the federal government to meet our demands else more mishaps will befall their installations. “Until our demands are met, no repair works should be done at the blast site.”