The Niger Delta region is now on the verge of full scale war after unrestrained attacks on oil facilities by armed youths believed to be loyalists of militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo).
The militants have sophisticated weapons that they got access to during Goodluck Jonathan government.
It was gathered that the latest attacks were carried out in speed boats fitted with General Purpose Machine-Gun (GPMG) and frigates carrying heavily armed youths.
Residents of the riverside communities said the militants paraded weapons more in numbers and sophistication than those used in previous crisis.
Oil and gas pipelines in the creeks of Gbaramatu and Ugborodo areas of Warri South West and those in Egbema, North local government areas respectively of Delta state were affected in Saturday’s attacks.
A source said, “The gas pipeline from Olero creeks to Escravos were destroyed in the latest attack. Several crude lines were sabotaged while Makaraba, Otunana (Uton-Nana), Abiteye and Dibi flow stations were bomb.
“The pipeline, which conveys gas from Saghara to Chevron was also destroyed and there are several persons trapped in the communities.
“The kind of explosives and bombs they used are not like those of before; the effects were felt in several communities as they went off intermittently.”
The facilities destroyed included those of the Nigerian Gas Company, Chevron Nig. Limited and NECONDE among others.
There were indications that some operations of CNL were disrupted by the latest attacks.
These attacks could spread to Bayelsa and other states of the region within days, as the perpetrators plan to cripple crude oil production and export.
The federal government has now put the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta on RED alert.
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