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By Tife Owolabi
YENAGOA, Nigeria, May 28 (Reuters) - Militants attacked themajor Nembe pipeline in Nigeria's Delta region, two officialssaid on Saturday, hours after the Niger Delta Avengers militantsclaimed a strike on the facility.
Nigeria's oil output has fallen to a 20-year low due toattacks on oil pipelines in the southern swamps, home to much ofits oil and gas wealth, which have compounded the impact of lowoil prices on Africa's largest economy.
"We heard multiple attacks last night," said Bello Bina, alocal official in Bayelsa state, confirming that the Nembepipeline carrying Bonny Light crude exports had been hit.
Royal Dutch Shell, which exports Bonny Light, was notimmediately available for comment. But Nengi James, a chairmanof the Nembe Oil and Gas Committee that liaises with oil firms,also said the pipeline had come under attack.
The "Avengers", who have been targeting oil and gasfacilities as part of what they say is a battle for the Delta'sindependence, said on twitter it had attacked the Nembe pipelineat 0215 local time.
"Something Big is about to happen," the group later tweeted.
Shell declared force majeure on Bonny Light loadings after aprevious attack on the Nembe creek trunk pipeline, but someexports had been continuing with delays caused by repair work.
The army raided the Oporoza community, which is home toGovernment Ekpemupolo known as Tompolo, a former militant leaderwho security officials have linked to the "Avengers", residentssaid. He has denied any connection to the group.
"Men, women and children, everybody have fled Oporozabecause the military invaded our village around 0145 thismorning," said Eric Omare, spokesman for the Ijaw Youth Council,which represents one of the largest ethnic groups in southernNigeria and to which the Delta belongs.
"They are harassing people, arresting some boys and theywounded one of our chiefs," he said. "Everybody is still in thebush crying for help."
A military source said seven people had been arrested,adding that explosives, arms and ammunition had been found intheir possession.
The military has moved in more troops to the Delta. ButBritish Foreign Minister Philip Hammond this month cautionedPresident Muhammadu Buhari that he needed to deal withcomplaints about poverty and anger about oil spills.
In the first signal that the government might try a lessheavy-handed approach, Oil Minister Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu hassaid an amnesty programme for former militants, signed in 2009to end a previous insurgency, needed to improve. (Reporting by Tife Owolabi, Anamesere Igboeroteonwu, UlfLaessing and Libby George; Editing by Richard Balmforth)
