Fresh Update as Militants Give Oil Firms Two Weeks to Shut Operations, Evacuate Staff

 

News report reaching us has it that the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), the new face of violent agitation in the oil-rich Niger Delta, yesterday issued a two-week ultimatum to owners and operators of oil concessions in the region to shut down their businesses and evacuate all their staff or face a “bloody attack”.

“With the recent resurgence of pockets of militant activities, I wish to specifically call on these groups of people to desist from criminal activities amounting to security breaches in the Niger Delta.
“Additionally, let me say that they (militants) have no constituency as all well-meaning Nigerians and law-abiding citizens of this country will not want to

associate with them.

“I therefore urge these criminal gangs to engage in meaningful and legitimate businesses because anybody found wanting will be made to face the full weight of the law,” he said.
He called on individuals to report any suspicious activities immediately to security agencies for swift response in curbing criminal activities in the Niger Delta region.

Tompolo Accused of Backing Militia

In a related development, the Commandant General, Riverine Security (Coast Guard of the Federation), Commander Bibi Oduku, has accused Tompolo and the people of the Gbaramatu Kingdom of aiding and abetting criminals in their community in the recent attacks on oil and gas installations within and outside the kingdom.

Bibi, in a press statement yesterday, said that Gbaramatu was not only the host of oil and gas facilities in the region, it is also the home of the most dreaded militia leader in the Niger Delta, Tompolo, who has been declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He disclosed that investigation from his security outfit revealed that the militants who had claimed responsibility for the recent attacks on oil facilities in the Niger Delta were from Gbaramatu Kingdom, adding that it would be difficult for an outsider to storm the area and carry out such coordinated attacks on oil facilities without insider collaborations.

According to Oduku, “It is not possible for any militia group to carry out attacks in Gbaramatu without the permission or blessings of Tompolo. The people of Gbaramatu are enlightened enough to understand the economic and environmental implications of pipeline bombings and oil spills, and as such will not allow outsiders to carry out attacks on oil facilities within and close to the kingdom.

“Investigations by the Riverine Security (Coast Guard of the Federation) shows that the Niger Delta Avengers, which have claimed responsibility for the latest attacks on oil installations in Warri South-West Local Government Area are operating from Gbaramatu Kingdom and its environs.”

He called for more government and stakeholders’ support for riverine security, stating that it would end the activities of criminals in the Niger Delta.
Oduku also tasked traditional rulers and community leaders and well-meaning Niger Deltans to continuously denounce the activities of the group as devilish and advised youths in the region not to join the group and other militia groups.