Rival militant groups clashed and attacked an oilfield operated by Eni’s
Nigerian subsidiary, Agip Oil Company (NAOC) at Ikeinghenbiri community
in Southern Ijaw council, Bayelsa.
According to Sahara Reporters,
residents of the community have fled their homes following the clash.
They say the militants were fighting for the control of the
Ogboinbiri-Tebidaba crude trunk line which passed through their
community.
A resident of the community identified as Ebidimo
Joseph said “We understand it is a conflict between two armed groups
for the access to the crude pipeline, one group claims to be working to
safeguard the pipeline and said the other group are vandals; they have
been shooting.
The sound of the gunfire is scary, and there is no sign of the Joint
Task Force soldiers who are supposed to be patrolling the area, we have
not seen any soldier,” Joseph said
According to Joseph, the pipeline was set ablaze while the two groups
engaged each other in the gun battle adding that there was no way to
ascertain if there was any casualty yet.
