Rival Militants clash, blow up Eni oil pipeline in Bayelsa today

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.