THE Federal Government’s proposed peace talks with militants on Sunday morning 
suffered a major setback as the Niger Delta Avengers blew up several oil facilities
 belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Chevron Nigeria 
Limited and the Nigerian Petroleum Development Corporation.
Our correspondent gathered that the attacks occurred simultaneously leaving 
what industry sources described as major oil facilities shattered.
The incident happened between 11.30pm and 1.15am on Saturday and Sunday 
respectively.
Affected in the renewed hostility included two major oil wells, head 7 and 
8 situated near Abiteye flow station in Warri South West Council Area of Delta State.

Security and community sources confirmed all incidents to our correspondent.Also 
damaged by the militant group are two major crude oil trunk line operated by 
the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and the Nigerian Petroleum 
Development Company close to the Batan flow station.
The Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Celestina Kalu, confirmed 
the attacks when contacted by our correspondent on Sunday.
According to her, “Incident report of 03/07/16 blowing up of oil wells at
 about 0110hrs and 0115 hrs respectively on Chevron oil wells 7 and 8 
were blown up at Abiteye flow station.
“The Chevron CSO on ground at the location claimed that the twin explosions 
came in at about five minutes intervals. The bombed oil wells are a little distance 
from the Abiteye flow station. Chevron has reported a drop in pressure from the
 crude oil pipeline Abiteye.”
Also, the Batan Community Chairman, Ogugu Dickson, confirmed the incident,
 saying the attacks had led to huge oil spill in the creeks.
Dickson, who spoke with our correspondent from the community on the telephone,
 said  that the community surveillance youths who had attempted knowing what was 
happening following the loud sounds that heralded the attack were shot by the militants.
The community chairman said his community youths could not challenge the militants 
because they did not bear weapons.
While calling on the militants to stop attacks on the oil facilities, Dickson noted
 that his people whose main business was fishing were now starving as the entire 
creeks in the area had been flooded with crude oil.
“The entire water is filled with crude oil as we speak and nobody can go out due to
 the attack. Our people are living in fears. Presently, nobody has been able to go for 
fishing due to the huge oil spill on the creek.
“The militants opened fire on our community’s surveillance youths who tried to
 know what was happening but thank God none was injured. The boys could not 
confront the militants because they were not armed,” Dickson stated.
A top security officer told our correspondent on condition of anonymity that the 
attack was a reprisal and might not be unconnected with the recent arrest of some 
members of the militant group by the operatives of the Department of State Services.
NDA confirmed the attacks in a series of tweets in their twitter handle.
The tweets read, “At 9:15p.m on Friday, the @NDAvengers blow up Nigerian
 National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Crude Oil Trunk Line to Warri Refinery.
“At 11:26pm on Saturday @NDAvengers blow up two NPDC major crude trunk 
lines close to Batan flow station in Delta State.
“At 1:15am on Sunday @NDAvengers blow up two major Chevron Oil Wells. 
WELL 7 and WELL 8 close to Abiteye flow station in Delta State.
“All five operations were carried out by @Ndavengers strike team. Well done soldiers.”
Another senior military officer who also spoke on condition of anonymity said about
 five trunk lines were severely attacked.
The military source said, “We are aware of the attacks on some oil facilities in the
 creeks early on Sunday. The incident is under investigation. We have also 
informed the operators of the affected oil wells and trunk lines. It’s very 
unfortunate,” the source added.
Meanwhile, the umbrella body for Ijaw youths, the Ijaw Youth Council and
 the Urhobo Monitoring and Development Group have condemned the attacks.
In a statement signed by its spokesman, Eric Omare, the IYC took a swipe at 
the Federal Government, saying it had failed to take any physical step towards 
ending the hostilities by the militants.