Militant group, Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), on Wednesday claimed it blew up a Chevron oil well in Delta State, just as it said it was not negotiating with the Federal Government.
The group made the announcement in two messages it posted on Twitter.
This is to the Gen. public we’re not negotiating with any Committee. if Fed Govt is discussing wth any group they’re doing that on their own
— Niger Delta Avengers (@NDAvengers) June 8, 2016
At 1:00am today, the @NDAvengers blow up Well RMP 20 belonging to Chevron located 20 meters away from Dibi flow Stattion in Warri North LGA.
— Niger Delta Avengers (@NDAvengers) June 8, 2016
Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, had said on Monday that President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered a two-week cessation of military operations in the Niger Delta to allow for negotiations.
On Tuesday, the government ordered the immediate withdrawal of troops from the region amid allegations of harassment and indiscriminate arrest of locals.
The Avengers, which previously attacked Chevron, Eni and Shell facilities, says it wants a sovereign state of Niger Delta, and has vowed to reduce Nigeria’s oil production to “zero”.
