Niger Delta militants deny negotiations with government, claim new attack

The militant group claiming responsibility for a wave of attacks that sent Nigeria´s oil production to a 27-year low said it was not holding talks with the government and announced it had carried out a new attack in the oil-rich Niger Delta.

“If the government is discussing with any group they’re doing that on their own,” the self-proclaimed Niger Delta Avengers said Wednesday in a post on Twitter referenced by various media outfits, although the authenticity of the account could not be verfied.

Through that same account the group also claimed they had blown-up Well RMP 20 belonging to Chevron in Warri North.

On 7 June, the government had announced its decision to de-escalate the military presence in the key oil-producing region, following a meeting between Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, governors from the Niger Delta States and military service chiefs.

In a statement, the country´s government cited Delta state Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as saying “it has been decided that military presence in the region should be de-escalated, though it was agreed that the forces should be kept to provide security and presence while government begins immediate engagement process with the communities in the affected areas.”

Militants in the Niger Delta were thought by some observers to be responding to the new government´s decision to repeal an agreement granting them the responsibility for safeguarding the energy sector´s assets in the region in exchange for payments.

As of 14:38 BST front month Brent crude futures were rising by 1.4% to $52.17 per barrel on the ICE.