New militant group blows up oil pipeline in Delta, vows to do more

A new militant group, the Niger Delta Liberation Movement (NDLM), has taken responsibility for a recent pipeline attack in Delta State.

The group, also known as “Movement,” claimed that they burst several pipelines along the Olero-Dibi-Abiteye Fields/Flow stations at around 2 am on Friday .

The NDLM described the attack as “the launch of ‘Operation Chevron Dragnet'” and warned that they will continue to target facilities used for crude oil exploration activities in the Warri area until Chevron meets their demands.

This was contained in a press statement signed by the Secretary of NDLM, Mr. Emmanuel Tagbanaraewumi, which was made available to journalists in Warri on Friday.

The statement reads, “Movement begins ‘Chevron Dragnet’: bursts pipelines along Olero-Dibi-Abiteye Fields in Delta.

“The blast pipelines, which are six inches, eight inches, and 10 inches in diameter, transport various petroleum products, such as natural gas and crude.

“These multiple blasts are the start of the operations code-named Chevron Dragnet.

“We promise a shocker as we vow to continue to hit facilities used for crude oil exploration activities in the whole of Warri areas, till Chevron does the needful as this is just the beginning of operation Chevron Dragnet.”

The group claimed that several host communities and organisations from the Itsekiri extraction, had called upon Chevron Nigeria Limited to make available its employment quota in the firm’s ongoing recruitment scheme, but to no avail.

It added, “We had earlier made demands for the unconditional conversion of VTP5/OTP2 and VTP6 amongst others and these demands were not attended to.

“The Movement is bringing to the notice of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and Chevron in particular, that we are in support of these calls and therefore announce the launch of an operation Chevron Dragnet.

“The operation Chevron Dragnet has become unavoidable, because Chevron had refused to listen to her host communities and organizations from the Itsekiri extraction, calling for the implementation of Local Content Law and allocate to her the rightful quarter of the ongoing Chevron Nigeria Limited recruitment by a consulting firm known as dragnet.

“Recall how we claimed responsibility for several attacks against oil facilities in the Warri area since July 2023. Our biggest feast, was the Dibi to Olero Gas Line Blast at Junction 19 on June 18, 2024.
“Through the disruption of all oil exploration activity, we pledge to communicate with Chevron in their own language.

“We will not provide any ultimatum or timeline for the operations, as was evident in our previous press statements.

“As long as Chevron decides to keep mute and play unholy politics with the request from the host communities and organizations of the Itsekiri nation, we vow to support and back these calls with the language Chevron will understand.”