New offensive: Mend
Mend claims major pipe attack
Nigeria's main militant group today claimed it had attacked major oil pipelines in the Niger Delta in order to prevent five flow stations feeding a Chevron facility in Delta state from operating.
The Movement for the Emanicpation of the Niger Delta (Mend) said in a statement emailed to Reuters that the attacks had affected flow stations at Alero Creek, Otunana, Abiteye, Makaraba and Dibi.
Colonel Rabe Abubakar, spokesman for the military taskforce in the Niger Delta, said he could not confirm any such attacks.
"At about 0200 (GMT) today, fighters from Mend destroyed major trunk lines to effectively put ... flow stations that feed the Chevron tank farm located in Delta state out of operation," the statement said.
The military began its biggest offensive for years 10 days ago, bombarding militant camps around Warri in Delta state from the air and sea and sending three battalions of soldiers to hunt down rebels believed to have fled into surrounding communities.
Mend repeatedly warned of new attacks on the oil industry in response but its threats had so far failed to materialise.