By Julie Ziegler
Dec. 18 (Bloomberg) — The Nigerian ventures of Royal Dutch Shell Plc and Eni SpA reported attacks near their facilities following threats from a militant group.
Shell spokesman Bisi Ojediran said a Shell facility had been attacked, adding that he had no further details. Fidelis Anjou, a spokeman for Eni’s Agip unit, said a blast occurred near a compound in the southern city of Port Harcourt.
The reports followed a warning earlier today by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, or MEND, that three car bombs were set to detonate “at any minute,” according to an e- mail statement released by the group’s spokesman, Jomo Gbomo.
Nigerian police spokesman Haz Iwendi didn’t immediately respond to calls seeking comment.
Attacks by the militants shut down as much as 631,000 of Shell’s venture earlier this year. Gbomo has repeatedly threatened to “cripple” the oil industry in Nigeria, Africa’s biggest producer, by the end of the year.
MEND wants the government to cede control of the oil industry to the Niger delta states where the crude is pumped. It’s also demanded the release of Mujahid Dokubu Asari, a militia leader jailed on charges of treason, and Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, a former governor of Bayelsa state who was impeached and arrested on money-laundering charges.
To contact the reporter on this story: Julie Ziegler in Lagos at [email protected]
Last Updated: December 18, 2006 09:52 EST
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