US warns of planned militant attacks in Nigeria

The US government Nov. 3 issued a warning of probable militant attacks on oil facilities throughout the volatile Niger Delta region, home to much of Nigeria's oil industry.

Nov. 3, 2006

2 min read

Eric Watkins
Senior Correspondent

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 3 – The US government Nov. 3 issued a warning of probable militant attacks on oil facilities throughout the volatile Niger Delta region, home to much of Nigeria's oil industry.

"The US government has learned that as of late October 2006, a militant Niger Delta group may have finalized its plans for a unified attack against oil facilities in the Niger Delta region," the US consulate in Lagos said in a circular.

It said the attacks allegedly would be carried out sometime during the first week of November and would include 10-20 simultaneous bombings of land-based targets together with a series of separate attacks on oil installations in which expatriate workers will be taken hostage.

Oil Nov. 3 rose above $58/bbl on the news. US light crude was up 45¢ to $58.33/bbl at 1232 GMT after falling 83¢ Nov. 2, while London Brent crude traded 46¢ higher at $58.33/bbl.

The warning came just a day after the kidnapping of two expatriate oil workers by armed gunmen in Nigeria during a raid on an oil services ship operated by Norway-based Petroleum Geo-Services (PGS) in the Niger Delta (OGJ Online, Nov. 02, 2006).

Nigerian government emissaries Nov. 3 said they had contacted the kidnappers, and both workers are in good health.

Joshua Benamesia, a security aide to Bayelsa State Gov. Goodluck Jonathan said the kidnappers claim to have acted on behalf of the Ezetu community living near Chevron's Funiwa platform to back demands for jobs and the building of a local hospital.

Meanwhile, Royal Dutch Shell Nov. 3 said it had resumed production at two flow stations in Nigeria that had been occupied by youths late last month.

A Shell spokesperson said the firm was ramping up production on Ekulama 2 and Belema, which normally produce around 47,000 b/d, but that Ekulama 1 remains shut in while a damage assessment continues.

Shell closed the facility following an attack by 70 militant separatists who invaded the three Shell flow stations on Oct. 24 in what they said was a protest against the nonimplementation of an agreement the company signed with their communities.

Shell said recent violence in the Delta region was costing its joint venture in Nigeria, the SPDC, a loss of 477,000 b/d in addition to 9,000 b/d normally produced at Ekulama 1.

Contact Eric Watkins at [email protected].