Nigeria Increases Security After Oil Installation Attacks

President Buhari has ordered security to be upgraded in the south of Nigeria where the oil producing plants are after recent attacks by local militants.

A Nigerian subsidiary of the international oil group, Shell, has been attacked in recent months by a local militant group that call themselves the ‘Niger Delta Avengers’.

The attacks come just as Nigeria is in the midst of an fuel crisis. In recent weeks, the country has upped the petrol price tremendously, leaving many locals stranded and without petrol.

The Niger Delta Avengers say that they want oil revenue to be shared more equally among local people and they also want a government amnesty programme.

However, it seems that Nigeria’s military is not going to give in to the militant group, and instead have stepped up security efforts.

According to a statement from the president’s office, the country’s naval chief has been ordered to strengthen the military joint task force:

“…[the naval chief] has been ordered to reorganise and strengthen the military joint task force (JTF) in the Niger Delta to deal effectively with the resurgence of militancy and the sabotage of oil installations,” a part of the statement read.

Buhari also said that everything is being done to protect the oil plants as well as their employees:

“…We have to be very serious with the situation in the Niger Delta because it threatens the national economy…I assure you that everything possible will be done to protect personnel and oil assets in the region,” he said.