Nigeria militants attack oil installationsBy AFP | Friday, April 13   2012 at  16:58

The main militant group in Nigeria's oil-producing region claimed in a statement on Friday to have attacked installations belonging to Italian firm ENI.

ENI confirmed the attack, with a spokesman for the company in Rome telling news agency AFP: "We confirm that an attack was carried out and that operations are currently underway to evaluate the extent of the damage."

"At 0210 hours on Friday, April 13, 2012, fighters of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) attacked and destroyed one wellhead and one manifold on trunk lines belonging to Agip Oil Company, a member of the Italian ENI group," it said.

"More attacks and a full statement will follow."

A 2009 amnesty deal for militants in the Niger Delta region greatly reduced unrest there, but sporadic incidents continue to occur.

Bayelsa state, which recently held a tense governorship election, has been hit by a number of incidents in recent weeks.

Nigeria's is Africa's largest oil producer.