Chevron platform

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

A new Niger Delta militant group that calls itself Niger Delta Avengers has owned up blowing up of the Chevron Valve Platform in Abiteye, Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.

It was gathered that this occurred at about 10:40pm on Wednesday.

Security sources confirmed the incident adding that the platform was totally destroyed with the use of dynamites.

The security source further hinted that the platform is a major connecting point where all other platforms link up and serve as a fulcrum to Chevron BOP and the Chevron Tank farm thereby halting all operations of the company in the region.

The Niger Delta Avengers, a militant group in the region in a statement on Wednesday night, while attributing the incident to the effort of its strike Team 6, stated that attack on the facility is in line with its promise to the Nigerian government to cripple the economy.

The group which had earlier claimed responsibility for destroying the Forcados 48-inch Export Pipeline, also threatened to attack oil facilities in Lagos and Abuja, the nation’s capital.

“We want to pass this message to all international oil companies operating in the Niger Delta that the Nigerian Military can’t protect their facilities. They should talk to the Federal Government to meet our demands else more mishaps will befall their installations.

“Until our demands are met, no repair works should be done at the blast site,” the group added.

It could be recalled that ex-militant leader in the oil-rich region, High Chief Government Ekpemukpolo (Tompolo) recently cried out that he should be counted out of criminal activities of the new militant group, Niger Delta Avengers.

Tompolo had said that some elements were trying to link him to the new militant group for the Federal government to incriminate him.

The group has even vowed to continue that attack until the economy of the country is crippled.