Fighters from the rebel Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) destroyed three major oil pipelines in Nigeria's southern delta today, the group claimed.
The MEND said the Italian oil firm Agip's Brass terminal, which normally exports about 200,000 barrels per day, had been affected by the attacks.
Industry sources said they had detected oil spilling from pipelines feeding the terminal in two locations on the Brass river and expected Agip to shut down the facility or reduce throughput as a safety measure during clean-up and repairs.
The MEND, which demands local control of oil wealth in the impoverished delta, threatened to blow up more pipelines between now and May 29th, when the outgoing Nigerian government is due to hand over power to its successor.
The group seized six foreign workers from an offshore facility operated by US company Chevron on May 1st and issued photos of the hostages today.
Another 14 foreign hostages are being held by different armed groups in the delta, where abductions and attacks on oil facilities have intensified in the past week.