Militants launch first attack in South-West, blow up pipeline in Ogun

dimeji akinloye

July 14, 2016 2:37 AM

This is the first known attack on oil installation in the South-West under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Suspected

This is the first known attack on oil installation in the South-West under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

According to residents of the community, the incident occurred on Tuesday night, July 12.

The militants were said to have carried out the attack under the pretence that they were officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on maintenance patrol.

The destroyed oil facility served an 11.4 distribution line for some companies in Ikorodu, Lagos state, report said.

With police investigations underway, the the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said its premature to conclude the attack was the handiwork of Niger Delta militants - it was however reported that sabotage of such nature has been masterminded by the creek manors.

“What we heard is that during the day, some people disguised as NNPC staff. They reportedly came with two Hilux vehicles and pretended as if they carried out some repairs.

“Later at night, the explosion occurred,” Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ogijo police station, Mohammed Tijani said.

READ: Niger Delta Avengers group debunks DSS claims

Pulse recalls that the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) had threatened to extend its attacks on oil facilities to Lagos State, vowing to cripple the Nigerian economy.

The move by the Federal Government to reach a peaceful pact with the militants has broken down, the result which saw the NDA stepping up its attacks in the past weeks.

dimeji akinloye