A Shell spokesperson confirmed to Associated Press that villagers had taken over a manifold, or oil pipeline intersection, in Ogoniland, slashing production in the oil-rich nation by a further 170,000bopd.

This is the latest incident in a series of bombings, kidnappings and protests that have slashed about one third of Nigeria’s total oil production capacity.

Nigeria is Africa’s largest oil exporter and a key source of imports for the United States.

Around 100 foreign workers – including one Australian – have been kidnapped since the beginning of the year.

Last week, rebels blew up three oil pipelines in the Niger Delta region, forcing Italian oil major Eni to halt its output of 150,000bpd.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), which claimed responsibility for the explosions, has urged oil workers to leave the region and aims to completely halt Nigerian exports.

In a seemingly unrelated incident on Tuesday, youths protesting against an oil spill in Nigeria occupied a separate oil installation operated by Chevron.

The facility was reportedly capable of producing more than 6000bopd, but had already been shutdown due to earlier unrest.