Nigerian independent oil and gas producer Oando Plc has reported a series of three suspected sabotage attacks on its crucial pipeline infrastructure in Bayelsa State, a key oil-producing region in the south of Nigeria, over the preceding week.

The affected assets include the 18-inch Tepidaba-Brass crude oil pipeline, located within the Brass local government area, and the 24-inch Ogboinbiri/Obiobi gas link, situated in the Southern Ijaw district. Oando, which recently acquired Nigerian Agip Oil Co. (NAOC) from Eni, disclosed these incidents in a statement released late on Friday.

According to a company spokesperson, Oando has initiated its emergency response protocols to mitigate the immediate impact of the sabotage. Leak repair teams have been promptly dispatched to the locations of the incidents to begin assessment and containment efforts.

Oando stated that it is actively collaborating with relevant authorities to conduct a thorough joint investigation visit to the affected sites. The purpose of this joint effort is to accurately determine the extent of the damage caused by the sabotage and to ascertain the underlying causes of these attacks.

Following the completion of the joint investigation, Oando has committed to commencing full-scale repair operations with the aim of restoring normal operations "as quickly as possible" to minimize disruption to its production and supply.

These recent incidents of pipeline sabotage serve as a stark reminder of the persistent challenges facing oil and gas operators in the Niger Delta region. Such acts, along with widespread crude oil theft, have been significant factors contributing to the decisions of major international oil companies, including Shell, Exxon Mobil, TotalEnergies, and Eni, to divest their onshore and shallow-water assets in Nigeria. These oil majors have increasingly shifted their focus towards deep-water operations, which are generally considered less susceptible to these types of security risks and operational disruptions.