Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), may have changed it tactics from bombings to
kidnapping as it has threatened to attack workers of American oil giants,
ExxonMobil Nigeria Unlimited.
This is coming on the heels of alleged bombing last Monday, of the
company’s Que Iboe 48-inch Crude Oil Export Pipeline which the oil firm
denied through its spokesperson, Todd Spitler, who said that ‘’there was
no attack on our facilities’’, describing what happened as a ‘’system
anomaly’’.
Besides, the group also restated its warning to oil firms operating in the
region not to repair any of its facilities destroyed or face dire
consequences for disobedience.
It warned that Exxon Mobil to learn from Shell Petroleum Development
Company (SPDC) and not repair the pipeline until the federal government
heed to their demands, adding if the firm fails to listen to them ‘’ your
personnel are going to be our next casualties, not pipelines.”
In a statement titled ‘’ExxonMbbil, Stop Deceiving the World’’ by its
spokesperson, ‘Brigadier General’ Mudoch Agbinibo said: “ExxonMobil can
deny and fool the general public about their Export Pipeline blown
yesterday. How long can they lie to their investors? Just in matter of
days, the whole world will see the truth. Qua Iboe 48” crude oil export
pipeline is down so said the Avengers.
“When we published that the Qua Iboe 48-inch crude oil export line was
blown by us , ExxonMobil denied it, but now ExxonMobil has admitted that
the 48” pipeline that Niger Delta Avengers blew up is “System Anomaly.”.
“We urged them to follow the path of safety by admitting it that was
blown, but ExxonMobil not admitting it to their traders/international
refineries is none of our business. It will become our business when
ExxonMobil carries out repair work on the blown pipeline. When that time
comes, it will not be ExxonMobil declaring force majeure, but it is going
to be something worse.
“ExxonMobil and Akwa Ibom government can deny Niger Delta Avengers is not
in Akwa Ibom state but we want them to know that one of our elite strike
teams is based in Akwa Ibom state. We are warning ExxonMobil not to
carry out any repair work on the blown pipeline, if they refuse and go
ahead with any repair work, something big and worse will happen.
“To the traders/international refineries doing business with them, do not
let ExxonMobil deceive you that the repair work will take three to four
weeks, with the level of damage. it will take them (ExxonMobil) months to
fix it.’’
ExxonMobil on Friday declared a force majeure on exports of crude oil
after observing a ‘system failure’ during a routine check of its loading
facility.
The oil firm said: “We are working to ensure loading activities at the
facility return to normal. We cannot speculate on any timeline for
repairs, Qua Iboe Terminal is operating and production activities
continue’’, stating that ‘’ there was no connection between the force
majeure and militant attacks.’’