Nigeria President cancels Delta visit as militants blow up oil pipelinesJune 3, 2016 - 11:06 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Militants launched new attacks in the Niger Delta on Thursday, June 2 vowing to bring Nigeria's struggling oil industry to a halt, and the president cancelled a long-awaited visit to the region, Reuters reports. The army said militants killed six people on Wednesday, June 1 when they ambushed a boat belonging to state oil firm NNPC in the Warri area. Separately, the Niger Delta Avengers group said it had attacked two crude pipelines operated by Italy's ENI. "At about 2:00 am today @NDAvengers blew up the Ogboinbiri to Tebidaba and Clough Creek to Tebidaba Crude Oil pipelines in Bayelsa State," the group said on Twitter. "This is in line with our promise to all international oil companies and indigenous oil companies that Nigeria oil production will be zero." The group also said on Friday it has again blown up the Forcados oil pipeline, which was under repair after an attack in February, Reuters says. "At 3:00 am today @NDAvengers blew up the SPDC Forcados 48" Exportline," the group said on a Twitter feed it uses to claim credit for attacks. "We warned SPDC not to go ahead with repair works," the group said. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari cancelled at the last minute a visit planned for Thursday to the Delta, source of most of Nigeria's crude, Reuters says. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo made the trip in Buhari's place to launch a cleanup program in an area badly hit by oil spills, vowing to work with community leaders to end militant attacks. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. Armenia: Defense Ministry warns against involving army in political processes The Ministry’s statement came after a video surfaced online, showing soldiers joining the protests in Tavush. Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. |