The Nigerian subsidiary of the oil major Shell has shut down its main offshore Bonga oil field, following an attack by suspected militants early Thursday, company spokesman Precious Okolobo said. The 200,000bpd facility was located offshore in in Bayelsa State, Western Niger Delta. The attack, which is a major setback to Nigeria’s dwindling oil production estimated at about 2 million barrels per day, has also been confirmed by the spokesman for the Joint Militray Task Force deployed in the oil region, Lt.-Col Sagir Musa. The attack took place around 3 am local time, and casualty figure is yet to be ascertained. Shell Petroleum Development Company has been at the receiving end of most attacks in the region, where violence has cut Nigeria’s oil production and helped pushed up oil prices. The region’s main militants, Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), have claimed responsibility. MEND, which launched a violent campaign in 2006 to press for a better deal for the oil region, has consistently threatened to cripple Nigeria’s ability to export oil.
