WARRI, Nigeria: Two Nigerian state-owned oil pipelines were blown up in an attack, blamed on the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) militant group. “The attacks targeted two pipelines located in the same zone, both belonged to the NPDC (Nigerian Petroleum Development Company) and we believe this attack was done by militants.” an official for the Department of State Security (DSS) told AFP. A newly emerged armed group calling itself the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate (NDGJM) claimed responsibility for an attack in Udu State. It was the second claim of responsibility by the group, which earlier this month claimed to have blown up a major pipeline and warned of more attacks to come. The creation of the group was announced hardly two days earlier by its spokesman, self-proclaimed “general” Aldo Agbalaja, who warned that the NDGJM would strike at oil installations within 48 hours. Since the start of the year, the Avengers have carried out a string of devastating attacks on Nigeria’s oil pipelines and facilities. The attacks have reduced Nigeria’s output by a third, damaging government revenue. The oil sector accounts for 90 percent of the nation’s foreign exchange earnings and 70 percent of government revenue.