Militant group claims attack on oil pipeline in Nigeria

A militant group operating in Nigeria's oil-rich delta region attacked and damaged a crude carrying oil pipeline owned by an Italian oil firm today, and termed it "a sign of things to come".

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) that states to be fighting for localising control of Nigeria's oil, claimed the attack on the oil pipeline owned by Eni SpA company.

A spokesman for the group whose suspected leaders, Charles Okah and Henry Okah are being tried in Nigeria and South African courts respectively, said the attack was to draw attention to its continued presence in the creeks.

"This relatively insignificant attack is a reminder of our presence in the creeks of the Niger delta and a sign of things to come," Jomo Gbomo said in an emailed message.

According to the statement, the pipeline connects Port Harcourt, a major oil hub city to an export terminal in coastal town of Brass -- a distance of approximately 250 kilometres.

MEND which has not carried out any significant attacks in recent times said their silence was strategic but observers believe the two leaders on trial were important to the group's operations.

Gbomo said South African President Jacob Zuma was interfering with justice hence he threatened to attack companies owned by South Africa in Nigeria including telecom giant, MTN and Sacoil Holding Ltd.

In 2010, car bombs planted by MEND exploded in Nigeria's capital, Abuja killing 14 people when the country was celebrating its 50th anniversary with a number of foreign dignitaries, including India's Union Minister Salman Khurshid, in attendance.

Several rebel groups were fighting in the Niger Delta for the control of oil resources but many of them accepted an amnesty offer by late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua in 2009.
MEND, however, refused to be part of such an agreement.