Hours after peace talks between President Muhammadu Buhari and Niger Delta
leaders, suspected militants have blown up a flow station belonging to the
Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) in Delta.
Reports indicated that troops securing the location while on routine
patrol heard an explosive sound around Ekweregbene, Bantan general area.
The attack breached a crude export line that was commissioned on Monday.
Confirming the incidence, the Joint Military Task Force deployed to the
Niger Delta to protect the oil infrastructure on Wednesday confirmed an
explosion at an oil field operated by Nigerian Petroleum Development
Company (NPDC) in Delta.
Lt.-Col. Olaolu Daudu, Spokesman of the joint force code-named “Operation
Delta Safe’’ who confirmed the development to newsmen in Yenagoa said
investigations had commenced.
He said troops deployed to the area heard an explosion at the Bantan Flow
Station run by NPDC, a subsidiary of Nigeria National Petroleum
Corporation (NNPC).
“Troops of Operation Delta Safe located at Sector 1, in Delta while on
routine patrol heard an explosive sound caused by suspected economic
saboteurs at Batan Flow Station around Ekweregbene, Bantan general area.
“The incident is however, being investigated and details will be made
available as events unfold. Recall that on Tuesday, Stakeholders from the
Niger Delta region of the country, during a crucial meeting with the
President, listed a 16-point demands from the president as precondition
for a lasting peace in the region.
Also in the meeting, the president was reported to have told the elders
that anybody who thought he had another country other than Nigeria could
go his separate way as he(President) and his people will stay-put and rid
the country of the myriads of challenges rocking it.
“Also, troops of Forward Operation Base, deployed at Bonny in Rivers,
while on anti – crude oil theft/ illegal bunkering patrol, discovered two
illegal refinery sites along Ogbunku Creek,’’ he said.
He further said the troops recovered three 40 horse power outboard engines
and three pumping machines.
No militant group has claimed responsibility for the explosion, coming
barely 24 hours after the Niger Delta stakeholders met with President
Muhammadu Buhari.