Suspected Niger Delta militants on Thursday night used dynamites to blow up pipelines belonging to oil giant, Nigerian Agip Oil Company, sparking fears among indigenes of the coastal communities of Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State of possible invasion of government forces on their community.
The Federal Government has made it clear it would not tolerate acts capable of worsening the bleeding economy.
This attack is coming just a few days after an attack on oil and gas pipelines in the Gbaramatu kingdom Delta state, dealt a deadly blow on the economy.
The attack, which occurred in Orukari, Golubokiri and Kpongbokiri communities, had many residents of the area scampering for safety. It also led to massive spillage of crude into the waters and fishing camps.
Confirming the development in a statement yesterday in Yenagoa, A member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly (Brass Constituency I), Israel Sunny-Goli, in a statement in Yenegoa on Saturday condemned the attack.
“Preliminary investigations show that the bombing of the pipeline was an act of sabotage carried out to hurt the economic interests of Bayelsa State and Nigeria,” he said.
According to him, the latest explosion, coming after the bombing of pipelines in the same area, recently, is worrisome and capable of forcing oil companies out of operation, with grave consequences for the nation’s economy.
Sunny-Goli called on the government to beef up security around oil facilities.
He said, “I condemn this latest attack on Agip pipeline at Kpongbokiri in its entirety. It is sabotage against Nigeria in a bid to cripple the economy at a time the Nation is struggling with decline in revenue due to the fall in oil prices.
“It is common knowledge that because of the low price of oil which is our main source of revenue, many states can hardly pay workers salaries. This sabotage is capable of crippling the economy if not urgently curbed.
“If these attacks are not checked and the perpetrators brought to book and Agip decides to pull out of Bayelsa state it would be disastrous for us as a people.
“Bayelsa state is an oil producing state and our revenue from the federal government is based on our quota of production but this would be reduced if Agip decides to pull out because incessant attacks on its facilities are not stopped.
“I want to urge security agencies to probe the attack on Agip pipeline and ensure that the perpetrators are arrested and brought to book. Bayelsans especially those that have oil facilities around them should also be vigilant and report any suspicious movement to security agencies to prevent further attacks.”
