Nigerian newspapers reported today that the suspects arrested were members of the Niger Delta Avengers, a new group which had claimed responsibility for the recent wave of attacks on pipelines in the Delta region.
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United States oil giant Chevron shut down an offshore platform this month after an attack claimed by the Avengers group.
Nigeria is Africa’s largest oil producer, but its economy is now facing difficulties due to the recent drop in global oil prices.
Militants in the Niger Delta have given a two-week ultimatum to owners and operators of oil production and export facilities in the area to shut down their business operations and evacuate staff or suffer a “bloody” attack.
“We made it clear that no fix works should be done until our demands are fully met”, the group said in a statement.
Has Nigeria’s Niger Delta managed to buy peace?
Oil spills have also resulted in environmental devastation over the years.
The group said, “The attention of the group has been drawn to a statement by one Israel Akpodoro, who claimed to be the National President of the National Coalition of Niger Delta Ex-Agitators, alleging that former President Jonathan founded the Niger Delta Avengers”.
The amnesty programme, which provides tens of thousands of former oil militants with a monthly stipend from the government, stemmed the level of violence in the region after its introduction in 2009.
“It would be recalled that when President Buhari, the then Presidential Candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) came to the southern part of the country to campaign especially the south-south, he was warmly received by his party supporters and traditional rulers that he visited”.
On Thursday the group emailed journalists a statement saying it was fighting for an independent Delta and would step up its attacks unless oil firms left the region within two weeks.
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Nigerian troops have made several arrests following recent attacks on oil facilities that have hit production, a senior military source told AFP on Monday.
