Nigerian militants blew up a crude pipeline operated by Anglo-Dutch oil giant Shell in the south region of Odimodi community, in the Delta state, the Daily Mail reported. Local residents stated that the trunk, which is known as Trans Ramos and belongs to the company, was previously targeted by militias.

No group had claimed responsibility for the attack.

However, according to News 24 Nigeria, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) has been recently targeting infrastructure owned by oil majors such as Shell, Chevron, Exxon and Eni.

NDA actions have significantly reduced oil production at a time Nigeria is struggling with low global crude prices which have hammered government revenues, weakening the local currency Naira and pushing up inflation to near 11-year highs.

As a result, Nigeria is ready to deploy troops to the Niger delta in a showdown with militants