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ABUJA. — The Niger Delta Avengers militant group yesterday rejected an offer of talks with the government to end its attacks on oil facilities and also said it had blown up a Chevron well in the delta.

Attacks by militants on oil and gas pipelines in the southern Delta swamps have brought Nigeria’s oil output to a 20-year lows and helped to push oil prices to 2016 highs on Tuesday.

Nigeria’s oil minister had said on Tuesday the government would start talks with the Niger Delta Avengers, which has claimed responsibility for a string of attacks in the Delta.

The Niger Delta Avengers rejected the offer of talks on its Twitter account. “We’re not negotiating with any committee,” the group said.

“If the Fed (Federal) government is discussing with any group they’re doing that on their own.”

The Avengers said it had blown up a Chevron well called “RMP 20” located next to the Dibbi flow station in the Warri area in the Delta. — Reuters/Xinhua.