THE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has suspended its exploration for crude oil in the Lake Chad Basinocatwd in parts of Borno State, following attacks on its workforce and some military personnel by the terrorist group, Boko Haram.

Ibe Kachikwu, minister of State for Petroleum Resources, told journalists in Abuja, that the exercise had to be put on hold until the corporation gets sufficient clearance to resume its oil search in the region from the military.

He regretted that the team was kidnapped by terrorists,  but stressed that work will seize now at the site until the army signals so. The minister, who commiserated with the families of victims killed by the insurgents, however,  stated that the corporation got the neccesary clearance from security agencies before embarking on the trip last Tuesday.

The commercial oil found in neighboring Chad Republic had encouraged the NNPC, on the orders of President Muhammadu Buhari, to intensify and focus its exploratory work in the inland basins on the Chad Basin and Benue Trough areas.

In November 2016, it resumed exploration activities in Gubio; Magumeri; Monguno; Kukawa; Abadam; Guzamala; and Mobar, after getting security advice from the military.

Realnews reports that 10 Third party staff of NNPC were abducted by Boko Haram terrorists. Nigerian Army went after the terrorist on a rescue mission and lost about 18 soldiers in an ambush. The army said they freed the hostages but no official confirmation has come from the national oil company to that effect as at press time

—  Jul 27, 2017 @ 17:20 GMT