Nigerian rebels attack oil pipelines, cut output

By Randy Fabi

ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigeria's most prominent militant group sabotaged oil pipelines operated by Shell and Agip on Wednesday, further cutting production in Africa's biggest energy producer.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) said gunmen attacked the pipelines in two separate raids near Nembe creek in Bayelsa state in the Niger Delta.

Attacks against the OPEC member's oil sector have become a near daily occurrence since President Umaru Yar'Adua announced an amnesty offer two weeks ago.

"The plague of sabotage descended heavily on major Shell and Agip crude trunk lines in Bayelsa state," MEND said in a statement. The pipelines connect to Agip's Brass and Royal Dutch Shell's Bonny crude oil export terminals.

Agip's parent company Eni said the attack caused a production loss of about 24,000 barrels per day, while Shell said it was still looking into the report.

A military spokesman said soldiers foiled an attempted attack on an Agip-operated oil well in Tebidaba in Bayelsa state early Wednesday. It was not clear if the incident was related to the pipeline attacks.

Shell, Agip and U.S. oil firm Chevron have cut output by around 300,000 barrels per day in the last six weeks because of the latest militant violence.

The disruption to supplies has provided some limited support for global oil prices.