afrol News, 10 June - Nine Nigerian navy personnel were killed and four civilians injured today in a second attack by Nigeria militants in the country's oil-producing Niger Delta.

Today’s attack came a day after a member of the Nigerian navy was killed and four other Nigerian seamen injured when gunmen in two speedboats attacked an Addax security vessel some 40 kilometres from the Nigerian coast.

Nigeria as one of Africa’s biggest oil producer, has seen frequent pipeline bombings and other attacks by militants have reducing output by an estimated 25 per cent, increasing demand for oil thus pushing up oil prices.

The President and Chief Executive Officer of Addax, Jean Claude Gandur, had said following yesterday’s attacks "we are deeply saddened by this incident and our thoughts and prayers are with the victim's family and those of the injured personnel. We strongly believe that this unfortunate incident was a premeditated act by criminal elements seeking personal benefit.”

Nigeria’s rebel group, Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) campaigning for a greater share of the region's oil wealth to be kept by local people, claimed an attack on oil pipeline belonging to Royal Dutch Shell in Rivers State last month. The MEND emerged in 2006 as leading group calling for a greater share of Nigeria's oil revenue for the Delta region.

The remote and inaccessible creeks of the Delta are home to criminal gangs who seize oil workers for money and attack oil installations. Also Piracy in Nigeria's waters has also increased in the last two years, making it one of the most dangerous shipping areas in the world.

The Nigerian government has promised to hold a summit with the Niger Delta communities to try to resolve the piracy problem in the region soon which has been a threat to shipping in the country.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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