U.S.-based oil company Chevron says unidentified assailants haveattacked one of its key oil supply pipelines in southern Nigeria,forcing a shutdown in crude production.
Nigerian military officials say the attack took place late Thursday near the Escravos area of the Niger Delta.
Chevronconfirmed the attack in a statement Saturday, saying it shut off itsonshore production following the pipeline breach to protect theenvironment. It did not say how much production would be lost.
Theregion's main militant group, the Movement for the Emancipation of theNiger Delta, says it was contacted today by a group of youths, whoclaimed responsibility for the attack.
Nigerian President UmaruYar'Adua has ordered the country's armed forces to boost security inthe region following a separate attack on an offshore oil fieldThursday.
Government spokesman Segun Adeniyi says a majormilitary crackdown is inevitable following the militant attack on theRoyal Dutch Shell oil installation.
The Movement for theEmancipation of the Niger Delta claimed responsibility for that rareoffshore attack on the Bonga field, 120 kilometers out to sea.
Militantsbegan attacking oil facilities in the Niger Delta in late 2005 todemand that more oil revenue be directed to poor local residents.