May 28 2008
Another Pipeline Bombed in Nigeria
Just as Nigerian Oil Minister Odein Ajumogobia was working to restore confidence that the 175,000 barrels per day that had to be shut in due to pipe bombings would be restored, MEND, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, blew up another major pipeline.
MEND sent an email to the media claiming responsibility after the bombing of the Royal Dutch Shell pipeline early Monday morning. MEND also claimed to have killed 11 soldiers in a shootout and sank their boat.
Lt. Col. Sagir Musa said that the alleged killing of military personnel is a lie. No armed personnel were even in the vicinity where the blast took place, he claimed.
MEND waged their campaign against oil companies and the government in 2006. Since that time, militant attacks on oil company facilities have reduced about one-fifth of Nigeria’s output.
The MEND email reportedly dedicated this attack “to the administration of Umaru Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan who have failed after one year in office to ensure peace, security and reconciliation in the Niger Delta region.”
Umaru Yar’Adua is Nigeria’s President. Goodluck Jonathan is the Vice-President. Umaru Yar’Adua claimed that addressing the problems of insecurity and poverty in the Niger Delta would be one of his priorities.
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