2007年VOA标准英语-Nigeria's Armed Group MEND Attacks Oil Pipeline

By Gilbert da Costa
Abuja
08 May 2007

pipelines1 belonging to Italian oil company Agip in Obrikom, Nigeria (File)" hspace="2" src="/upimg/allimg/070604/1414210.jpg" width="210" vspace="2" border="0" />

Man walks along oil pipelines belonging to Italian oil company Agip in Obrikom, Nigeria (File)

The Movement for the Emancipation² of the Niger Delta³, or MEND, the most prominent armed group in Nigeria's oil-rich Niger Delta, says it has bombed three oil pipelines. Gilbert da Costa in Abuja has more in this report for VOA.

The group says its fighters destroyed three large oil pipelines in Bayelsa state of Southern Nigeria. In an e-mail message to journalists, MEND's spokesman Jomo Gbomo said the attack cut the power at a nearby export facility owned by Italian oil company Agip.

The group vows⁴ to attack pipelines, platforms and support vehicles in the coming days to disrupt oil exports.

A spokesman for the Bayelsa state government, Ekiyol Wilson, calls the attack a criminal act.

"This morning, we just woke to hear that they have attacked oil facilities in Brass⁵ and Akasa," he said.  "It is pure criminality. It has been confirmed. It has been confirmed through our sources. Government will do something about it. That is government reaction. Government is looking into it and government will get to the bottom of the matter. That is all we can say."

MEND, which is considered the best-organized militant⁶ group in Nigeria, also released pictures of foreign oil workers seized a week ago from an offshore⁷ oil facility.

The hostages, six of them, were casually⁸ dressed and looked well, except perhaps a bit tense.

The group, which claims to be fighting for a larger share of the country's oil wealth to go to local communities, has carried out kidnappings, car bombings and other attacks in its campaign to cripple the oil industry.

MEND also seeks the release of two leaders on trial on treason and corruption⁹ charges.

Oil exports are down about 25 percent and analysts¹⁰ predict more cuts if the violence escalates¹¹. Nigeria is Africa's largest oil exporter.

1 pipelines   

管道( pipeline的名词复数 )； 输油管道； 在考虑（或规划、准备） 中； 在酿中

参考例句：

• The oil is carried to the oil refinery by pipelines. 石油通过输油管输送到炼油厂。
• The oil carried in pipelines. 石油用管道输送。

2 emancipation   

n.（从束缚、支配下）解放

参考例句：

• We must arouse them to fight for their own emancipation. 我们必须唤起他们为其自身的解放而斗争。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They rejoiced over their own emancipation. 他们为自己的解放感到欢欣鼓舞。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 delta   

n.（流的）角洲

参考例句：

• He has been to the delta of the Nile.他曾去过尼罗河三角洲。
• The Nile divides at its mouth and forms a delta.尼罗河在河口分岔，形成了一个三角洲。

4 vows   

誓言( vow的名词复数 )； 郑重宣布，许愿

参考例句：

• Matrimonial vows are to show the faithfulness of the new couple. 婚誓体现了新婚夫妇对婚姻的忠诚。
• The nun took strait vows. 那位修女立下严格的誓愿。

5 brass   

n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器

参考例句：

• Many of the workers play in the factory's brass band.许多工人都在工厂铜管乐队中演奏。
• Brass is formed by the fusion of copper and zinc.黄铜是通过铜和锌的熔合而成的。

6 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

7 offshore   

adj.海面的，吹向海面的；adv.向海面

参考例句：

• A big program of oil exploration has begun offshore.一个大规模的石油勘探计划正在近海展开。
• A gentle current carried them slowly offshore.和缓的潮流慢慢地把他们带离了海岸。

8 casually   

adv.漠不关心地，无动于衷地，不负责任地

参考例句：

• She remarked casually that she was changing her job.她当时漫不经心地说要换工作。
• I casually mentioned that I might be interested in working abroad.我不经意地提到我可能会对出国工作感兴趣。

9 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

10 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

11 escalates   

v.（使）逐步升级( escalate的第三人称单数 )；（使）逐步扩大；（使）更高；（使）更大

参考例句：

• As the challenge escalates, the need for teamwork elevates. 面临的挑战越大，越需要团队协同合作。 来自互联网
• I cannot understand why a minor disagreement escalates into a fist-fight. 我真不明白为什么一点意见不合就变成了拳头相见。 来自互联网