LAGOS, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria's major militant group in the oil rich Niger Delta region the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) said on Saturday it had attacked oil pipelines operated by Chevron in southeast Nigeria's Delta State.

    Jomo Gbomo, the spokesman for the militant group, said in an e-mail statement that its fighters destroyed the recently repaired Chevron pipeline linking Alero creek through Abiteye to the Chevron export terminal.

    This is the second time in two months that this facility has been attacked by the group.

    "At about 2000 Hrs on Friday, July 10, 2009, our fighters revisited the recently repaired Chevron pipeline linking Alero creek through Abiteye to the Chevron export terminal in Delta state and destroyed it again," the statement said.

    "We have been monitoring the repair works which involved security of over 200 soldiers and waited patiently until the repair was completed," it added.

    "This will be our mode of operation on any pipeline or facility that is repaired," the group said.

    The attack appears to be a confirmation of the threat by the group that even with the plans to free their leader, its campaign against foreign oil companies in the oil rich region would continue.

    "This action by the government has provoked us to decide that even when talks are on-going there will be no repairs on any destroyed facilities until both parties agree on a common position on the regions future," the statement added.

    No officials from Chevron are available for comments so far.

    The action by the militant group indicates that it continues its campaign against foreign oil companies after the Nigerian government offered the amnesty for them last month.

    Armed attacks in the oil rich region, which accounts for almost all of Nigeria's oil output, have cut more than 20 percent of the country's crude exports since 2006.

    The group has launched several attacks on international oil facilities in southern Nigeria as part of its campaign to get what it calls a fairer distribution of the region's oil wealth to local people.

    Last month, it warned oil workers in the troubled oil rich Niger Delta region to leave within 72 hours to avoid an imminent attack.

    The unrest in the region has forced many international firms operating there to flee the area, resulting in greater governmental concern over the area and the mobilization of the Nigerian army and coast guard into the region.

    About 300 foreigners have been seized in the Niger Delta since 2006. Though almost all have been released unharmed, the international investors would not increase their funds in the area.