Militants claim oilrig attack

2008-06-19 14:08

Lagos - The most powerful militant group in Nigeria says it launched an attack against an offshore oilrig, but failed to cripple the installation far from shore.

A leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta has told The Associated Press that several open-hulled boats filled with militant fighters travelled through heavy seas to the Bonga oil field early on Thursday and launched an attack against a rig there.

But the fighters weren't able to enter a computer control room which they had hoped to destroy with the aim of shutting down all production from the oil field which is more than 100km from land.

The militant leader spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid punishment by authorities.

- SAPA