Two pipelines blown up by Nigerian rebels

Nigerian militants said yesterday they blew up two key oil pipelines as they stepped up attacks in response to a government amnesty offer.

The Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (Mend) said it had blown up pipelines operated by the Anglo-Dutch giant Shell and Italian group Agip in an attack in the Bayelsa State.

Mend, the best equipped of a number of rebel groups operating in the restive southern oil hub, has claimed at least seven attacks since the government's amnesty offer on June 25. The militants say are on a campaign to cripple the oil industry until their complaints of injustices and inequitable distribution of the oil wealth are answered.

"The Agip pipeline, which connects the Agip Brass terminal, was sabotaged at Nembe Creek, while the Shell Nembe Creek pipeline was blown up at Asawo village, all in Bayelsa State," said Mend.

A Shell spokesperson said, "we are investigating reports of an attack on SPDC (Shell Petroleum Development Company) joint venture's Nembe Creek at Bayelsa".

Agip was not available for comment.

President Umaru Yar'Adua offered an unconditional pardon to fighters who lay down their arms in a bid to end a three-and-half year insurgency. Mend claimed yesterday that some of the armed youths who responded to the amnesty offer have been arrested by a special joint military and police unit deployed in the region. The violence in the Niger Delta costs Nigeria hundreds of thousands of barrels of crude each day.

Keep up with the latest business news from the region with the daily Emirates Business 24|7 newsletter. To subscribe to the newsletter, please click here.