Four oil service ships were yesterday attacked by unknown gunmen, on the channel leading to Nigeria’s largest oil and gas export complex on Bonny Island.
According to report, two people were injured, but none of the vessels were boarded. Bonny Island is the export point for about 400,000 barrels per day of crude oil and 18 million tonnes per year of liquefied natural gas.
“Four vessels were attacked by separate armed groups, there were two casualties, but none of the ships was boarded,” the report added.
However, the ships involved were all supply vessels that service oil platforms, production vessels and rigs offshore, who work under contract to major oil companies and are manned by a combination of foreigners and Nigerians.
“It sounds like sea pirates, because there were no hostages taken,” a report said.
Besides, armed groups have been reported to be stockpiling weapons and supplies, in preparation for major attack on an oil facility in Nigeria, citing militant and security sources.
Quoting Jonjon Oyeinfie, former leader of ethnic rights group Ijaw Youth Council, and a member of a committee representing militants in talks with government on a negotiated settlement to the Niger Delta crisis, the report said
“there could be massive attack on an oil installation in Rivers State.”
Another militant source said Ateke Tom is stockpiling large quantities of arms, food and water, in preparation for an offensive, it said.
Tom’s group claimed responsibility for an attack on police stations, a hotel and a nightclub last month in Port Harcourt, during which 13 people were killed. The group’s strongholds in the area surrounding Port Harcourt had come under military bombardment in days prior to the attack.
Security consultants working for oil multinationals said they had also picked up talk of an attack on the industry in Rivers State within days.
Rivers State is home to Nigeria’s largest oil and gas export complex on Bonny Island, as well as hundreds of oilfields and pipelines.
Since January 2006, several militants groups in the region kidnapped more than 250 local and foreign oil workers and sabotaged oil and gas pipelines and other facilities. The groups say they want a greater share of the oil wealth produced in the region.
Jan102008