Two pipelines belonging to Eni's Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) subsidiary, were blown up in an attack by suspected militants at Osiama in Bayelsa State's Southern Ijaw Local Government Area (LGA) on Friday 29th October. The resultant substantial oil spillage damage in the area forced Agip to shut down production of over 60,000 b/d.
According to reports, security operatives suspect that the attack was masterminded and perpetrated by the militant commander, Africanus Ukparisia (a.k.a. General Africa).
Meanwhile, the presidential adviser on Niger Delta Affairs, Timi Alaibe, vehemently refuted claims that the attack on Agip's pipelines was carried out by militants because of their dissatisfaction with the implementation of the Federal Government's amnesty programme.
According to Alaibe, “attributing such wicked act of economic sabotage to ex-militants in an attempt to gain relevance is totally unacceptable.” He insisted that the attack was an isolated delinquent case which had nothing to do with the implementation of the amnesty programme.
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