Mkpoikana Udoma 07 June 2017, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt – A coalition of militants in the Niger Delta region have warned that it will henceforth go after expatriates and oil company directors, as well as attack platforms and barges of oil companies as a result of alleged insincerity and neglect of the region by the Federal Government.
The militants also called on other agitators in the region to stop attacking pipelines to put an end to further pollution and degradation of the environment.
A five-point communiqué issued after a meeting with representatives of over 30 militancy groups across the region, including the Niger Delta Watchdogs, Niger Delta Volunteers, Niger Delta Peoples Fighters, Bakassi Freedom Fighters and Niger Delta Warriors, warned that oil companies’ estates and offices in the region would not be spared.
The communiqué, signed by the convener of the meeting, ‘General’ John Duku and four others, lamented that the government was not being sincere in finding a lasting solution to the crisis in the Niger Delta, alleging that government was more serious in using Niger Delta resources to negotiate with Boko Haram in releasing the Chibok girls.
“We want to sound this warning to all the multinational oil and gas companies, including servicing and marine/shipping companies operating in the Niger Delta that henceforth, we have changed our mode/scope of operation.
“We will not attack oil pipelines again, but, will rather go after expatriates, oil company directors/key staff, their platforms/barges, including their estates and offices across the region, even filling station.”
The militants alleged that activities of oil and gas companies was responsible for about 75 per cent of the crisis in the Delta, adding that while the Federal Government bears the consequences of the crisis, the oil companies hide under the cover the Federal Government.
They accused the Federal Government of refusing to pay stipends to beneficiaries of the Presidential Amnesty Programme for the past five months.
They urged Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to urgently summon a meeting between stakeholders, management of oil companies, government representatives and representatives of international bodies to discuss the Niger Delta issues in order to install lasting peace and fast-track development in the region.
“It is not enough to think that we have gone to sleep or all is well when the people have been constantly neglected and marginalised while the proceeds from our resources is being used to pacify Boko Haram and attend to other irrelevant things,” the communiqué further stated.
