JTF spokesman Lt. Col. Rabe Abubakar said this week's attack near a Chevron crude export terminal in Nigeria's Delta State came in the wake of the U.S. company's declaration of Force Majeure, a contract clause that removes liability for involved parties, This Day reported Friday.

The contract maneuver by Chevron prior to Thursday's attack was brought about in part by damage to a regional pipeline last week.

This Day said an oil pipeline at Abikeye riverside was vandalized Nov. 14, causing Chevron to cease the production of nearly 90,000 barrels of oil per day.

Abubakar said Thursday's attack occurred near the Escravos Gas-to-Liquid project being constructed by Chevron.

This Day said while Abubakar had no firm casualty numbers from the armed conflict, the military official confirmed two militant speedboats were destroyed by JTF forces.