The joint military force deployed to the Niger Delta to protect oil infrastructure confirmed on Wednesday that there was an explosion at an oil field operated by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC).
Barely 24 hours after Niger Delta stakeholders and federal government officials met to discuss proposals to bring peace to the region, suspected militants blew up a crude oil export line in Delta State on Wednesday.
The joint military force deployed to the Niger Delta to protect oil infrastructure confirmed on Wednesday that there was an explosion at an oil field operated by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC).
Lieutenant-Colonel Olaolu Daudu, spokesman of the joint task force codenamed Operation Delta Safe, confirmed the development in Yenagoa on Wednesday and said investigations had commenced.
He said that troops deployed to the area on Wednesday heard an explosion at the Bantan Flow Station run by NPDC, a subsidiary of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
"Troops of Operation Delta Safe located at Sector 1 in Delta State, while on routine patrol, heard an explosive sound caused by suspected economic saboteurs at Batan Flow Station around Ekweregbene, Bantan general area,” he explained. "The incidence is being investigated and details will be made available as events unfold.”
Mr. Daudu added, "Also troops of Forward Operation Base deployed at Bonny in Rivers State, while on anti-crude oil theft/illegal bunkering patrol, discovered two illegal refinery sites along Ogbunku Creek and recovered three 40 Horse Power outboard engines and three pumping machines.”
Community sources in the area said that no militant group has claimed responsibility for the explosion coming barely 24 hours after Tuesday’s Niger Delta peace talks.
It was gathered that the attack breached a crude export line that was commissioned on Monday.
