The Niger Delta Avengers in the wee hours of today attacked Shell Petroleum Development Company’s Forcados 48” Export line and the Brass to Tedibaba crude pipeline in Bayelsa.

The militant group claimed responsibility for the attack on its Twitter handle, tweeting: “At 3:00 am today @NDAvengers blow up the SPDC forcados 48″ Exportline. We warned SPDC not to go ahead with repair works but they refuse.”

The attack came hours after the Avengers dissociated themselves from the attack on a military houseboat around Warri, Delta State.

In a statement issued by its spokesman, Brig. Gen. Mudoch Agbinibo, the armed group said that “Killing of sleeping Soldiers is not our style. We promise the world that in this process of liberating our People, not a single blood of Nigeria soldiers will be wasted despite the provocation.

“Even the Inhumane Nigeria soldiers are exempted. Our war is on oil installations not to take innocent lives. For the fact we can’t give Life, we also don’t have the power to take any life. But we (Avengers) are assuring the families of the affected soldiers that we will bring the culprits to book.”

Agbinibo also disclosed that “when it’s time to face the military in combat let the whole world know that we won’t be the ones to throw the first punch.”

According to the fighters, “This message is going to all groups parading themselves as freedom fighters. You can fight for your people without killing innocent souls NDA have proved it. We were able to drop Nigeria Oil production from two million barrels to just 800,000 barrels without killing a soul. We are warning every group to follow our footsteps. The days of Killing and Kidnapping are over.”

•Photo shows burning oil pipeline.

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