Shell Halts Production After Soldiers Attack

Attacks on Shell facilities by militants in the Niger Delta led to the production shut down.

Militants suspected to be members of the Henry Okah-led Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger (MEND) on Saturday launched an attack on a flow station in southern Bayelsa State.

They were said to be reacting to a ruling of a Federal High Court in Jos that the dreaded Okah should be tried secretly.

Shell sources say oil wells and other valuable equipments have been blown up in the attack which brings fifth the numbers of attacks in just over a month, a development that has led to the shutting down of about 164,000 barrels a day by Shell in the country.

According to Shell sources, the weekend attacks have affected some oil delivery lines and spilling of oil into the environment. but efforts are being made to stop a further spread of the oil.

Attacks by militants in the area have resulted in the halving of the nation's entire oil production, a trend which has consequently led to great economic loss with an end- effect on world oil price, which has been on the upward drive.

Saturday's attack on Shell's facilities has brought the capability of the Joint Military Task Force in securing the volatile region into question. Though security sources have confirmed the attack and its effect on about three oil wells, no arrest has been reported.