By Sadeeq Kamsela, Abuja
There were concerns about a looming state of emergency in Rivers State on Tuesday, following a militants’ strike on the strategic Trans-Niger pipeline in the Gokana Local Government Area of the state.
The 180km Trans-Niger Oil Pipeline runs from the Nun River fields to Rumuekpe in Rivers State, and it is an artery for production by the parent Shell Petroleum Development Company in Rivers and Bayelsa states.
The facility was divested by SPDC and transferred to Renaissance Energy Group just weeks before the attack.
Although the group behind the attack on one of Nigeria’s key oil assets is yet unknown, it is believed to be connected to the ongoing face-off between the state’s executive and legislative arms of government.
It would be recalled that some militant groups had threatened to cripple oil production in the region if the House of Assembly impeached Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The incident came barely 24 hours after the Martins Amaehule-led House issued a notice of alleged gross misconduct on the governor and his deputy, Prof Ngozi Ordu, leading to concerns that it is linked with the crisis.
Various sources revealed that the incident occurred about midnight on Monday, within the vicinity of the ongoing Bodo-Bonny Road although no group is yet to claim responsibility for the attack.
Meanwhile, it was gathered the Presidency and Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, are closely watching the development.
“The NSA (Malam Nuhu Ribadu) has been briefed about the development and he is keenly watching,” one source said.
It was gathered that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was not in the mood to tolerate any attack on oil installations and crude production, which are critical to realising his electoral promises.
“The President is yet to react to the matter, but it is clear that he is not in the mood to tolerate any attacks or threats to oil production,” our source in the Presidency said.
