The Niger Delta Avengers says it has attacked three pipelines operated by Agip, Oando and Shell in Nembe community, Bayelsa State, Southern Nigeria.

The Group in a statement on Tuesday says the attack is a response to the military operation tagged “operation sharkbite” commissioned by the Nigerian Navy.

It says it will not commit to a dialogue or stop it attacks until the government withdraws the military presence in the region.

The statement reads, “Our Elite Strike Team 03 struck Nembe 1, 2 and 3 truck line operated by Agip, Oando and Shell with supply capacity of 300,000 barrel per day to Bonny export terminal in Bayelsa State.

“This is in response to the so-called “Operations Sharkbite” an art of terrorism commissioned by the tyranny of the Nigerian Navy establishment and orchestrated by some elements of the ruling political class to continuously undermine any effort by the Nigerian state to addressing the legitimate demands of the people of the Niger Delta and as well a conspiracy to bloat the accounts of some security contractors and conflict merchants within the party structure of the APC.

“We are determined to continue this war by all means necessary, until that environment prevails for a genuine dialogue and negotiations within the framework of the sixteen point key demands presented to President Muhammadu Buhari by PANDEF on the 1st of November 2016.

“We want the peace with honour, we don’t want the Peace of Our Time. Since that moment military was drafted into the Niger Delta as an instrument of suppression to our fatherland against all peaceful protest and legitimate demands the fear had gone. The message is getting stronger with more messengers.

The group, which has claimed responsibility for majority of the attacks in the region, had in August announced a ceasefire but it resumed hostilities in September.

Its attacks had pushed Nigeria’s crude production to about 1million barrels per day (bpd) and accelerated the country’s inflation rate to 11-year highs.

To find a lasting solution to the Niger Delta unrest, the Nigerian Government last Thursday set up a committee known as the Niger Delta Riverine Protection Programme to liaise with stakeholders in the Niger Delta region.

The committee will work with critical stakeholders to recover illegal weapons, curtail the spate of bombings and the operation of illegal refineries in the Niger Delta region.

•Text courtesy of TV360 Nigeria. Photo shows Niger Delta militants.

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