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Nigeria militants in deadly raid Nigeria militants in deadly raid
(about 1 hour later)
Militants in Nigeria's oil-rich Niger Delta region have attacked a pumping station, killing three security guards.Militants in Nigeria's oil-rich Niger Delta region have attacked a pumping station, killing three security guards.
A spokesman for the oil giant Total says the station, which produces some 35,000 barrels of oil a day, has shut. At another oil facility armed men have taken oil workers and more than 40 soldiers guarding it hostage.
Meanwhile, Shell is evacuating its family staff members after a car bomb on Monday exploded inside a residential compound in the city of Port Harcourt.Meanwhile, Shell is evacuating its family staff members after a car bomb on Monday exploded inside a residential compound in the city of Port Harcourt.
Both militants and local criminals have attacked oil facilities and kidnapped oil workers to obtain ransom money.Both militants and local criminals have attacked oil facilities and kidnapped oil workers to obtain ransom money.
There are reports that another flow station, operated by Italian company Agip, was raided by armed men overnight in Bayelsa state. A spokesman for the oil giant Total told Associated Press news agency that the Obagi station in Rivers State, which produces some 35,000 barrels of oil a day, had been shut down.
"There was an attack at the Agip flow station at Tebidaba. I don't know if there were any casualties," a military officer to AFP news agency. The police confirmed the raid.
A Total official told Associated Press news agency that the Obagi station in Rivers State had been shut down, but gave no further details of the attack.
However, the police confirmed the raid.
"Militants at 3.30am attacked a facility at Obagi. Three people were killed," a police spokesman told Reuters news agency."Militants at 3.30am attacked a facility at Obagi. Three people were killed," a police spokesman told Reuters news agency.
Royal Dutch Shell in Port Harcourt says the relocation of families and dependants from three residential quarters was a precautionary move. In neighbouring Bayelsa State, a flow station, operated by Italian company Agip, was also raided overnight by armed men.
"There was an attack at the Agip flow station at Tebidaba. I don't know if there were any casualties," a military officer to AFP news agency.
The BBC's Abdullahi Kaura Abubakar in Port Harcourt says that after this flow station came under attack a few months ago the military sent soldiers to guard it against further raids.
These soldiers and workers at the facility are being held hostage, a miltary source has told him.
Our correspondent says Agip has now evacuated most of its foreign workers from the region, while Royal Dutch Shell is relocating all its oil workers' families and dependants from the Niger Delta.
"We don't want to take chances and jeopardise the safety and security of our workers and their families," a spokesman told AFP."We don't want to take chances and jeopardise the safety and security of our workers and their families," a spokesman told AFP.
Another blast on Monday hit the fence of a compound belonging to Agip.Another blast on Monday hit the fence of a compound belonging to Agip.
There were no casualties in either attack, which the militant group, Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) claimed responsibility for Monday's car bomb attacks.There were no casualties in either attack, which the militant group, Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) claimed responsibility for Monday's car bomb attacks.
Mend are demanding the release of two leaders and more oil wealth for locals.Mend are demanding the release of two leaders and more oil wealth for locals.
The world's eighth biggest exporter of crude has been losing more than 500,000 barrels of oil per day since February when militants demanding greater local control of oil wealth staged a series of raids on the industry.The world's eighth biggest exporter of crude has been losing more than 500,000 barrels of oil per day since February when militants demanding greater local control of oil wealth staged a series of raids on the industry.