Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), may have changed it tactics from bombings to kidnapping as it has threatened to attack workers of American oil giants, ExxonMobil Nigeria Unlimited.
This is coming on the heels of alleged bombing last Monday, of the company’s Que Iboe 48-inch Crude Oil Export Pipeline which the oil firm denied through its spokesperson, Todd Spitler, who said that ”there was no attack on our facilities”, describing what happened as a ”system anomaly”.
Besides, the group also restated its warning to oil firms operating in the region not to repair any of its facilities destroyed or face dire consequences for disobedience.
It warned that Exxon Mobil to learn from Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and not repair the pipeline until the federal government heed to their demands, adding if the firm fails to listen to them ” your personnel are going to be our next casualties, not pipelines.”
In a statement titled ”ExxonMbbil, Stop Deceiving the World” by its spokesperson, ‘Brigadier General’ Mudoch Agbinibo said: “ExxonMobil can deny and fool the general public about their Export Pipeline blown yesterday. How long can they lie to their investors? Just in matter of days, the whole world will see the truth. Qua Iboe 48” crude oil export pipeline is down so said the Avengers.
“When we published that the Qua Iboe 48-inch crude oil export line was blown by us , ExxonMobil denied it, but now ExxonMobil has admitted that the 48” pipeline that Niger Delta Avengers blew up is “System Anomaly.”.
“We urged them to follow the path of safety by admitting it that was blown, but ExxonMobil not admitting it to their traders/international refineries is none of our business. It will become our business when ExxonMobil carries out repair work on the blown pipeline. When that time comes, it will not be ExxonMobil declaring force majeure, but it is going to be something worse.
“ExxonMobil and Akwa Ibom government can deny Niger Delta Avengers is not in Akwa Ibom state but we want them to know that one of our elite strike teams is based in Akwa Ibom state. We are warning ExxonMobil not to carry out any repair work on the blown pipeline, if they refuse and go ahead with any repair work, something big and worse will happen.
“To the traders/international refineries doing business with them, do not let ExxonMobil deceive you that the repair work will take three to four weeks, with the level of damage. it will take them (ExxonMobil) months to fix it.”
ExxonMobil on Friday declared a force majeure on exports of crude oil after observing a ‘system failure’ during a routine check of its loading facility.
The oil firm said: “We are working to ensure loading activities at the facility return to normal. We cannot speculate on any timeline for repairs, Qua Iboe Terminal is operating and production activities continue”, stating that ” there was no connection between the force majeure and militant attacks.”
