”PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Nigerian youths attacked guards protecting three oil flow stations operated by Royal Dutch Shell on Thursday to push demands for more funds for the local community, security sources said.”

The gunmen were identified as loyal to the militant leader “Kitikata.” They wrote a letter demanding “they be given a contract to guard facilities at Nembe Creek, a hotspot for criminal raids, or else they would carry out further attacks.

Increased demand for community compensation of the Niger Delta’s vast amount of petroleum exports has led to numerous instances of violence. The oil facilities’ operations have resulted in many problems for the communities of the Niger Delta including environmental damages (oil spills, unpleasant stenches, etc.) and unemployment. This has led to an increase in gang activity, kidnappings of oil factory workers, and attacks on major pipelines. Violence in the Delta has cut a fifth of the country’s oil output in the last few years.