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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Pipeline blown up in Niger Delta | Pipeline blown up in Niger Delta |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The Nigerian military has confirmed that a major pipeline in the country's oil-rich Niger Delta has been blown up. | The Nigerian military has confirmed that a major pipeline in the country's oil-rich Niger Delta has been blown up. |
| But it denied a militant claim that it had lost 11 troops during the attack. | But it denied a militant claim that it had lost 11 troops during the attack. |
| The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) group said in an email that it had attacked the Royal Dutch Shell pipeline in Rivers State. | The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) group said in an email that it had attacked the Royal Dutch Shell pipeline in Rivers State. |
| The militants, who want a greater share of oil revenues for the area, said they blew up a flow station and were retreating when soldiers opened fire. | The militants, who want a greater share of oil revenues for the area, said they blew up a flow station and were retreating when soldiers opened fire. |
| A Shell spokesman told Reuters news agency the company was investigating the attack, which happened in the early hours of Monday morning, but had no comment to make yet. | A Shell spokesman told Reuters news agency the company was investigating the attack, which happened in the early hours of Monday morning, but had no comment to make yet. |
| It is not only a lie, but it is dubious bunkum Military spokesman Lt Col Sagir Musa Tackling Nigeria's oil swamps | It is not only a lie, but it is dubious bunkum Military spokesman Lt Col Sagir Musa Tackling Nigeria's oil swamps |
| Nigeria is the world's eighth largest oil exporter and the largest in Africa. | Nigeria is the world's eighth largest oil exporter and the largest in Africa. |
| Since 2006 Mend has waged a campaign of sabotage on oil infrastructure that has seen oil production cut by a fifth. | |
| Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua, who is nearing the end of his first year in office, had said that addressing the problems in the Niger Delta - where there is widespread poverty - was one of his priorities. | Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua, who is nearing the end of his first year in office, had said that addressing the problems in the Niger Delta - where there is widespread poverty - was one of his priorities. |
| 'Boat sunk' | 'Boat sunk' |
| A military spokesman has strongly denied any troops were killed in the attack. | A military spokesman has strongly denied any troops were killed in the attack. |
| "It is not only a lie, but it is dubious bunkum," Lt Col Sagir Musa said in a statement read to the BBC. | "It is not only a lie, but it is dubious bunkum," Lt Col Sagir Musa said in a statement read to the BBC. |
| He confirmed that the important oil pipeline had been blown up, but he said there were no soldiers in the area at the time of the explosion. | He confirmed that the important oil pipeline had been blown up, but he said there were no soldiers in the area at the time of the explosion. |
| "The flow station is not guarded by any armed men. How and where did they get the soldiers they claim to have killed?" the statement said. | "The flow station is not guarded by any armed men. How and where did they get the soldiers they claim to have killed?" the statement said. |
| Mend claims their fighters sank the boat the soldiers were in. | Mend claims their fighters sank the boat the soldiers were in. |
| "Today's attack is dedicated to the administration of Umaru Yar'Adua and [Vice-President] Goodluck Jonathan who have failed after one year in office to ensure peace, security and reconciliation in the Niger Delta region," the Mend email said. | "Today's attack is dedicated to the administration of Umaru Yar'Adua and [Vice-President] Goodluck Jonathan who have failed after one year in office to ensure peace, security and reconciliation in the Niger Delta region," the Mend email said. |
| Mend say they are campaigning for a better share of the oil wealth, but correspondents say many of the attacks on pipelines are carried out by criminal gangs for extortion. | Mend say they are campaigning for a better share of the oil wealth, but correspondents say many of the attacks on pipelines are carried out by criminal gangs for extortion. |