Nigerian militants claim to have sabotaged an oil-pumping station, in the restless Niger Delta region.
In the latest chapter in the never ending story of Nigerian militants waging war with foreign oil companies in the African nation, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) is reported to have conducted a strike in the small hours of Wednesday morning on a Chevron-owned station.
The U.S.-based Corporation has since confirmed a fire at a facility, run by one of its subsidiaries, although it has refused to speculate upon the cause of the flames.
The flow station is “currently engulfed in fire after being overwhelmed by our fighters” said MEND in an e-mailed statement.
Violence in the troubled southern oil region has spiralled in recent weeks following ongoing fighting between a government Military Joint Task force (JTF) and native rebels – who claim to be fighting for a larger share of the government-controlled oil-industry reserves.
The flash points of the fighting thus far have been concentrated in western Delta state, where the Chevron station in question is located.
The overnight attack represents the second retaliation of significance by the rebel group, since the Nigerian government’s military offensive began last month.
MEND previously took retaliatory action on May 25, bombing an oil pipeline – also owned by Chevron – causing 100,000 barrels per day (bpd) of oil to be shut-in.
The militant group has issued repeated warnings to foreign oil companies based in the region to pull all of their staff from operations, since its conception back in 2006.
One such oil industry employee unfortunate enough to be caught up in the conflict was Briton, Matthew Maguire, who was kidnapped in an ambush over six months ago.
On June 1 the rebels claimed that they intended to release the British hostage, although the pledge was later reversed.
The rebels attacks upon oil infastcture since 2006 has successfully reduced output in Nigeria – Africa’s leading oil producer – by approximately 38%. Government revenues are down as a direct result of the fall in oil revenue; only helping to provide venom to the Nigerian military’s heavy-handed tactics.