Shell Is First Casualty After MEND Announced End Of Cease Fire

MEND: "IT WAS CERTAINLY A RESPONSE TO OUR ORDER TO RESUME HOSTILITIES BY ONE OF THE VARIOUS FREELANCE GROUPS WE ENDORSE."

UPDATED FEB 01, MEND said in an email on Monday morning that it was not directly responsible for the attack adding that "It was certainly a response to our order to resume hostilities by one of the various freelance groups we endorse."

San Francisco Jan 31, (THEWILL) – Barely hours after it announced an end to its cease fire deal with the Nigerian government, militants operating in the Niger Delta region blew up a major pipeline in Ogbotubu village, southern Bayelsa State, belonging to oil giant, Royal Dutch Shell.

Shell announced on Sunday that its Trans Ramos Pipeline, which was blown up in June last year by MEND was hit again on Saturday by saboteurs causing it to shut down three pumping stations in the area. The company said the destruction has caused some oil to spill into the creeks.

"The leak, confirmed to have been caused by sabotage has stopped with the shut down of three flow stations yesterday. We are continuing to recover spilled oil and deploying additional booms to contain the spread of the crude," a spokeswoman told Reuters.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has not responded to an email requesting a confirmation that it carried out the attack but sources familiar with the incident say it has the hallmark of MEND all over it.

The Trans Ramos Pipeline connects to the Tunu, Opukusu and Ugbotubu pumping stations which feeds the Shell Forcados Export Terminal.

Shell did not say how much of its production will be affected by the shut-in but analysts expect the attack to cause a significant drop in the company’s production.

Bayelsa State is home state of Nigerian Vice President, Mr. Goodluck Jonathan and MEND has promised a full assault on all oil facilities in the region if he is not allowed to become acting president as enshrined in the Constitution.

President Musa Yar’Adua has been hospitalized in a Saudi Arabian hospital since November 23, 2009 and his departure from office without formally writing the National Assembly as demanded by the Constitution has set up a flurry of court cases and protests in the country.

Nigerian past presidents and other top retired public and civil servants, including former Supreme Court Justices have urged the ailing President to write a letter informing the National Assembly of his medical vacation to allow his Vice President fully exercise presidential powers. So far, President Musa Yar’Adua and his handlers have not responded positively to the calls.