The Niger Delta Avengers this morning claimed that it successfully attacked an NNPC Gas and Crude trunk line close to Warri, Delta State, despite the heavy presence of the military.

The militants claimed in a short statement that the pipeline was attacked at about 11:45 p.m. on Thursday despite being heavily guarded by the military.

Col. Isa Ado, Spokesman for the Joint Military task Force in the Niger Delta, has remained silent and incommunicado, refusing to take calls or respond to text messages since the resumed hostilities but security sources and residents in the area confirmed the attack.

“We are in the process of accessing the incident and the cause and details are not yet available,” a military personnel deployed to the area said.

Residents of the area say that the attack on the crude pipeline has resulted to an ongoing oil leak.

Augustine Amaka, who resides in Warri, said that the oil spill that followed the pipeline attack has polluted the surroundings while soldiers have cordoned off the area.

Eric Omare, an Aide to Delta Governor and Spokesman, Ijaw Youths Council, confirmed the incident on telephone on Friday.

“Another crude pipeline was attacked Thursday night near Batan oil field in Warri,” Omare said.

“There were two attacks on Pipelines and Petroleum Marketing Company and NNPC pipelines, following shortly after an earlier attack on Chevron in Escavos.”

•Photo shows Niger Delta militants.