Suspected militants have struck again, blasting a 24-inch oil pipeline belonging to the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) in Odimodi community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, a report from the area said. The report, this morning by THISDAY, said the attack took place on Saturday night.

The NPDC 24-inch Brass Creek to Forcados Terminal pipeline, popularly called the Trans Ramos trunk line, conveys crude oil from oil well heads in Bayelsa State to Shell’s Forcados Terminal in Delta State.

THISDAY quoted security sources as disclosing yesterday that the incident occurred at 11 p.m. with a huge fire enveloping the site of the attack.

“Suspected militants attacked the NPDC 24-inch Trans Ramos trunk line operated by NPDC in Odimodi at about 11 p.m. with dynamites. As I am speaking, concerted efforts are being made to put out the fire in the area,” a security source said, according to the paper.

It quoted another community source as confirming the incident, stating that they heard a huge explosion late Saturday night only to discover that it was a pipeline belonging to NPDC that had been blasted.

“We heard a huge explosion when we were about to retire for the night. We rushed out and found that the NPDC pipeline was on fire. We are not sure whether it was militants that caused it or not,” he reportedly said.

THISDAY said it gathered that the militants had made an attempt last week on the said pipeline, but the attack was foiled by local vigilantes and soldiers.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The Media Relations Manager of NPDC, Mr. Ugo Atugboko, could not be reached to comment on the attack, as his phone was switched off, the report said.

•Photo shows oil pipeline on fire after an attack by militants.