Militants claim responsibility for NNPC pipeline attack in Akwa Ibom

dimeji akinloye

July 26, 2016 4:51 AM

The group had last week dismissed claims by President Muhammadu Buhari, that the Federal Government is negotiating with Niger Delta militants.

Niger Delta Avengers

Militant group,

In a statement by the group's spokesman, Mudoch Agbinibo, the attack was carried out around 11:30pm.

“11:30pm on Sunday, the NDA blew up Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), gas pipeline at Nsit-Ibom L.G.A, Akwa Ibom state," the statement said.

The group had last week dismissed claims by President Muhammadu Buhari, that the Federal Government is negotiating with Niger Delta militants.

But the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) confirmed holding preliminary talks with the government, even though report said the group is divided over the negotiation move - with some members not inclined to dialogue.

President Buhari had last Thursday, while bidding farewell to the outgoing German Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Zinner, said his administration was talking to Niger Delta militants through oil companies and law-enforcement agencies to find a lasting solution to insecurity in the region.

ALSO READ: 'We'll use force if militants refuse to accept peace,' Buratai says

He also said the government was studying the instruments of the amnesty programme inherited from the previous administration with a view to carrying out commitments made that were undelivered.

dimeji akinloye