The militants blew up the Agip gas pipeline at Ogbembiri in the Southern Ijaw area of Bayelsa state, leading to an oil production drop equivalent to 1.000bp/, said an official who asked not to be identified.

However, Eric Omare, a spokesman for the Ijaw Youth Council, an umbrella organisation of youth groups in the southern region said that si far “It is not clear if it is connected to militant activities or ordinary vandals or people paid by contractors to do so so as to get repair contracts.” By his side, a spokesman for Eni called it a  “sabotage” in the pipeline that actually has been repeatedly breached this year amid renewed violence in the region, News 24 wrote.

A group calling itself the Niger Delta Avengers which says it wants a greater share of oil profits and independence for the swampy region has claimed several attacks. Recently, they issued a two-week ultimatum to owners and operators of oil blocs in the area to shut down their business operations and evacuate all their staff or face a ‘bloody’ attack. Some days after, Chevron followed Shell, and evacuated his staff in the area.