A Niger Delta militant group has said it would begin another round of violent campaigns against oil companies in Nigeria in a few days’ time. “This round of attacks will be the most deadly and will be targeting the deep sea operations of the multinationals which include Bonga Platform, Agbami, EA Field, Britania-U Field, Akpo Field,” the Niger Delta Avengers said in a statement posted on its website on Wednesday. About 17 attacks carried out in 2016 by the Avengers and other militant groups in the oil-rich Niger Delta were partly responsible for a slump in Nigeria’s oil output, which in turn plunged the country into a recession. The group had threatened to launch “Operation Red Economy” on oil facilities in November 2017 but was dissuaded by the leadership of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), set up last year to chart a way forward with the Nigerian government. While resource control has been at the heart of the agitations of many militant groups in the Niger Delta, the NDA, is this time around demanding for the country’s restructuring.

Source: The Guardian January 17, 2018 10:30 UTC