Bloomberg.com
By Dulue Mbachu
June 26 (Bloomberg) — The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, the main militant group in Nigerias southern oil region, said it attacked an oil facility run by Royal Dutch Shell, hours after an offer of an amnesty by President Umaru YarAdua.
An oil well at Shells Afremo offshore field was blown up about 11 p.m. yesterday in response to a punitive raid by the military on Agbeti community in Delta state, Jomo Gbomo, the spokesman for the group, also known as MEND, said in an e-mailed statement today.
Were investigating reports of an attack at Afremo, Precious Okolobo, Shells spokesman in Nigeria, said by phone in Lagos today. The platform had been shut since Feb. 28 following an attack on Shells Trans Escravos Pipeline, he said. Military spokesman Colonel Rabe Abubakar said troops didnt carry out any raids yesterday.
The militant group has stepped up a sabotage campaign against Nigerias oil industry since a military offensive against its positions began last month in the Niger River delta that produces nearly all of the countrys crude. Oil facilities run by Chevron Corp. and Eni SpA also have been damaged.
Attacks by armed groups have cut Nigerias oil exports by more than 20 percent since 2006 and deterred investments. Nigeria is Africas leading oil producer and the fifth-biggest source of U.S. oil imports.
President YarAdua declared an amnesty yesterday for insurgents in the 70,000-square kilometer (27,000 square miles) region of swamps and rivers, who give up their weapons and agree to rehabilitation to avoid prosecution. MEND said it will analyze the speech before issuing a response.
In line with the amnesty offer, the military didnt carry out any attacks yesterday and therell be none today, Abubakar said. But that does not meant we wont defend ourselves if attacked.
To contact the reporter on this story: Dulue Mbachu in Lagos at [email protected].
Last Updated: June 26, 2009 03:59 EDT
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