Editor
A militant group, Niger Delta Liberation, has attacked an oil facility near Junction 19 of the Dibi-Abiteye flow station in Delta State.
A surveillance staff member working for one of the firms in the area confirmed the incident to Vanguard, stating that no lives were lost.
According to the source, who requested anonymity, the attack occurred at around 2 a.m. He revealed that their patrol boat had passed the area just 15 minutes before the assault.
“It happened around Junction 19, Dibi, at about 2 a.m. The surveillance team had just patrolled the area and moved toward Well 3, which is about 800 meters from Junction 19. The attackers used a boat powered by a 200-horsepower engine, while our surveillance boat uses only 75 horsepower. They blew up the pipeline. Investigations into the attack are ongoing,” the source stated.
The Secretary of the Niger Delta Liberation group, Emmanuel Tagbanaraewumi, issued a statement claiming responsibility for the attack.
He further warned that it marked the beginning of a series of operations targeting oil facilities, codenamed Operation Chevron Dragnet.
The statement accused Chevron of failing to meet their demands, including the conversion of certain job programs and adherence to local content laws.
“We had earlier made demands for the unconditional conversion of VTP5/OTP2 and VTP6 programs, among others, but these demands were ignored.
“The Operation Chevron Dragnet is now unavoidable because Chevron has refused to address the concerns of its host communities and organizations. We will continue to disrupt oil exploration activities until Chevron engages with us in a meaningful way.
“Recall that we have claimed responsibility for several attacks on oil facilities in the Warri area since July 2023. Our most significant operation was the Dibi-Olero Gas Line blast at Junction 19 on June 18, 2024.
“As long as Chevron continues to ignore these calls and play unholy politics, we will respond in the language they understand,” the statement read.
The attack has drawn widespread condemnation.
A retired army colonel, who spoke to Vanguard on condition of anonymity, described the development as regrettable.
“It has been nearly a decade since we last witnessed attacks on oil facilities in the Niger Delta. Such actions should be discouraged. If they have grievances, they should seek dialogue rather than resorting to destruction and pollution,” he said.
Amos, a resident of a community near the flow station, expressed concern over the environmental and economic impact of the attack.
“It’s unfortunate that some people can go to such lengths. This has polluted the rivers, making life difficult for fishermen and threatening the livelihood of many families,” he lamented.
Authorities and local stakeholders are working to assess the damage and address the concerns raised by both the militants and affected communities.
