Nigeria President urged to act as oil attacks ravage country's south

PanARMENIAN.Net - Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday, June 4 faced urgent calls to stop security spiraling out of control in the oil-rich south, after militants claimed two new attacks against key pipelines, AFP says.

The Niger Delta Avengers, blamed for a wave of bombings in the region since the start of this year, claimed the attacks on infrastructure operated by Shell and Eni's Nigerian subsidiaries.

The group said the attack was carried out because Shell had refused to heed earlier warnings not to repair the pipeline, which was damaged in February and is still not back on stream.

Half an hour later, a "strike team" blew up the Brass to Tebidaba crude oil line in Bayelsa state operated by Agip, the subsidiary of Italy's Eni, the NDA said.

The militants' purported spokesman, Mudoch Agbinibo, warned the company "not to commence repair works on any of the blown pipelines in Bayelsa. We will make you regret it."

Friday's attacks follow two claimed bombings of Agip pipelines elsewhere in Bayelsa state on Thursday and the sabotage on Tuesday of two oil wells operated by the US group Chevron.

Six people -- four soldiers and two personnel -- were also killed on Wednesday in neighbouring Delta state when suspected militants disguised as commuters opened fire on an NNPC boat.

The attacks have already had an impact, with output slashed to 1.4 million barrels per day, well down on the budgeted 2.2 million bpd this year.

Buhari last week ordered enhanced security in the delta, adding: "We have to be very serious with the situation... because it threatens the national economy."

But Eric Omare, from the Ijaw Youth Council rights group, said more needed to be done as the situation was "rapidly deteriorating and getting out of control".

Buhari should "urgently and personally take charge of the management of the process to return peace and normalcy to the region".