Nigerian oil militants claim attack on Agip pipeline

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WARRI, Nigeria (AP) — Nigerian oil militants say they have blown up a crude oil pipeline belonging to Italian oil company Agip in Bayelsa state.

The Niger Delta Avengers made the claim on their website Friday.

Such attacks targeting the oil industry in the Niger Delta have caused Nigeria to lose its position as Africa's largest oil producer.

Desmond Agu, Bayelsa state commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, said his colleagues exchanged gunfire with heavily armed youth in two speedboats who attacked the pipeline early Friday.

The Tebidaba-Brass pipeline is the major pipeline leading to the Agip Brass crude oil terminal with a carrying capacity of 3.2 million barrels.

Agip has not commented on the attack.

The militants say they want a greater share of Nigeria's oil wealth for local communities.