Bibi, Ayiri others condemns attack on Chevron’s oil installation by militia

…Ayiri blames Delta Govt for mismanaging the crisis

Condemnations continues to trial the attack on Chevron’s platform in Warri North Local Government Area, Delta State, on Thursday and its blowing up of pipelines linking Warri and Kaduna refineries on Friday by a new militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers.

Following the attack on the Okan offshore production platform on Wednesday by the militants, Chevron said it had lost about 105,000 barrels of oil production in three days, and may likely shut down their operation following the huge impact of the attack on their operations.

Condemning the fresh wave of attack in the region, the Commandant General Riverine Security (Coast Guard of the Federation), Commander Bibi Oduku, Itsekiri and Ijaw leaders, Chief Ayiri Emami and Mr. Johnny Michael, stated that the new militant group is seeking attention and may be acting a script.

While condemning the attack Commander Bibi in a press release stated that the militant group NDA is a criminal and devilish group which is interested in turning the Niger Delta region into a war zone where security of lives and property cannot guaranteed.

He advised Niger Delta youths; “not to fraternize with these criminals because they are not interested in the welfare of the Niger Deltans.

Adding that;” anybody caught blowing pipelines and other oil facilities will be crushed.’’ They are degrading our environment, pipeline vandalism pollutes our environment, and it is degrading our ecosystem.  Our farms are polluted; our sources of drinking water are polluted.

I want to assure Nigerians that like other militia groups, the Niger Delta Avengers are pursuing their own personal agenda. They are interested in lining their pockets with ill gotten money, but we will not allow them to thrive in Niger Delta.

They have taken up arms against the Federal government in their deluded dream to control the resources of the Niger Delta. They forgot to understand that violence will not take the Niger Delta region anywhere.

Commander Bibi stated further that the Riverine Security will work closely with relevant security agencies to bring members of the notorious group to face the full wrath of the law.

He also advised Niger Delta youths to partner with the President Muhamadu Buhari led Federal government to bring sustainable peace and development to the Niger Delta, urging citizens to share information at their disposal with officers of Riverine Security and other security agencies closest to them.

However, an APC chieftain and activist in Delta State, Chief Ayiri Emami, while condemning the attacks by called Niger-Delta Avengers, which he described as non-existent, said: “The attacks are just to create a platform for negotiation with President Muhammadu Buhari.”

According Ayiri as reported by Vanguard, while blaming the Delta State Government for mismanaging the current security situation in the region stated that “I know that Mr. President is intelligent enough not to fall for just gimmick”.

“Some of us volunteered to cooperate with the security agencies free of charge to fish out the perpetrators of these bombings, but the Delta state government did not see reason with us. They held a state security meeting asking why security agencies are working with us.”

“I want to say that it is the duty of the state government to fish out the perpetrators, people cannot be here in Delta state and say that they do not know those responsible. They know the person directing his boys to do and should bring them out.

“They should not be saying that it is the All Progressives Congress, APC, people in the state that is causing it, it has nothing to do with APC,” he added.

Speaking a similar vein, an Ijaw leader, Chief Michael Johnny, noted that: “There is nothing strange or new in what is happening. It is what we are already used to, but my worry is that these people should stop endangering the life of Gbaramatu people.”

“The people causing this havoc are known, the security agencies should not compromise, they should have good intelligence information to identify them and bring them to book. I also want to say that they should stop calling the name of APC in this matter, APC is a progressive party, anybody who wants to join the party should do so, but they should stop blackmailing us,” he said.

He also added that many Gbaramatu leaders know those carrying out the bombings, but because of fear, they would not be able to speak out and urged the security agencies to do their work.

Stating reasons for their action, the militant group in a statement after the twin attacks, its spokesperson, Col Agbinibo asserted: “To keep to our promise, the three (3) days ultimatum given to Chief Government Ekpemupolo has elapsed and he fail to apologize to the Niger Delta Avengers, at 2200hours, Thursday, May 5, 2016, our strike team 4 hit the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) crude and gas lines.”

“The Crude line feeds the Warri and Kaduna refineries respectively, while the gas line feeds the Lagos and Abuja electricity power supply. With this development, the Warri and Kaduna refineries will be shut down and all cities that depend on the gas line for power will all be in total darkness like the creeks of the Niger Delta.

“In same vein, the Niger Delta Avengers strike team 7 at same time 2200hours, Thursday, May 5, 2016, blew up Well D25 in Abiteye. A major gas well belonging to Chevron and also blow up major pipe lines to effectively put the Abiteye, Alero, Dibi, Otunana and Makaraba flow stations that feed the Chevron tank farm out of operation. As at now, Chevron operation in the Niger Delta is zero,” he said.

The militant group boasted: “Located some 100meters away from the blasted Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipeline is a military houseboat stationed there to protect the oil pipelines. But, we want you public to know that despite the heavy present of military operatives our activities can’t be stop and it just waste of fund and time to let the Nigeria military protect oil installations.”