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Tag: Avengers

  • ‘Rein in Niger Delta Avengers’

    ‘Rein in Niger Delta Avengers’

    A socio-political group in Akwa Ibom, One for Change Initiative, has called on ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, and other Niger Delta leaders, to dissuade the Niger Delta Avengers from blowing up oil pipelines.

    The group, in a statement at the weekend, urged Jonathan, Chief Edwin Clark, Obong Victor Attah and others, to engage the militant group in peace talks.

    The National President, Prof Etok Ekanem, said leaders of the region have a role to play in preventing the militant group from sabotaging the lofty programmes and projects of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

    Etok hoped that the 2018 budget would address key infrastructural needs of the country, especially with the allocation of N300 billion for construction and rehabilitation of strategic roads in the country.

    His words: “We want to specifically thank Mr. President for his commitment towards the implementation of the East-West Road, with the provision of about N17.32 billion in the 2018 estimates, to complement the work of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    “We, therefore, call on Niger Delta Avengers to drop their threat and give peace a chance.

    “We also call on former President Goodluck Jonathan, and other Niger Delta leaders, to impress it upon the Avengers to let peace be for the progress of the region and the country at large.”

  • Avengers: Armed Forces will stop violent agitation—Olonisakin

    Avengers: Armed Forces will stop violent agitation—Olonisakin

    •Dickson meets Clark

    THE Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Abayomi Olonisakin, has said the armed forces will continue to strictly prosecute threats of violent agitation against the country.

    Speaking yesterday at the base of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta in Warri, during the commissioning of 20 new 400 horsepower gunboats, newly procured by the Nigerian Navy, he lamented the continued threat posed to the nation’s maritime interests by activities of criminal elements.

    Explaining the reason why the Niger Delta environment had come under heavy military watch in recent years, Olonisakin condemned the new threat of violence by the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), noting that violent agitation is unconstitutional and would not be allowed to go unchecked.

    Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, yesterday met with Chief Edwin Clark, in Abuja to discuss critical issues affecting the Niger Delta region especially threats by the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) resume hostilities.

    It was gathered that the meeting focused on the state of security especially the breakdown of law and order in some areas and the escalating tension in the oil-rich region.

    In Warri, the military chief, who was in company of a huge number of senior members of the nation’s armed forces, including the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abubakar Alhassan, the Commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), Rear Admiral Apochi Suleiman, the Commander of the NNS Delta, Commodore Ibrahim Dewu, and many others, commended the navy for living up to its task in the Niger Delta region.

    He said, “Recent purported declaration of intent to resume hostilities by the Niger Delta Avengers rather casts an unfortunate gloom on the well being of the region and serves a sad commentary on the security environment. While the right to agitation is inalienable to any group, its association with violence is unconstitutional and will always be strictly prosecuted by the armed forces.

    “In this regard, I note with satisfaction that in synergy with other arms of the armed forces, the Nigerian Navy has continued to maintain effective deterrence and appropriate operational posture.”

    In his remark, the Chief of Naval Staff, Ibas, said out of the 20 gunboats, 16 were locally sourced; built by the Epenal Group of Companies Limited, adding that the other four were bought from South Africa.

    The event was graced by many dignitaries, including the Secretary to the Delta State Government, Festus Ovie Agas, who represented the governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa; the Olu of Warri, HRM, Ogiame Ikenwoli; the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, HRM Major General Felix Mujakperuo (rtd.); the Pere of Ogulagha Kingdom, HRM Joseph Timiyan; Pere of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom, Couple Oromoni; the representative of the Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom and spokesman of the Gbaramatu Traditional Council, High Chief Godspower Gbenekama, and many others.

    After the meeting with Clark, the Ijaw leader, Dickson, said that the deliberations focused on the need to establish contacts with the federal government and the aggrieved youths as part of efforts to prevent a major crisis in the area.

    The governor in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, said that the discussion also condemned the disruption of the fourth quarter general meeting of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) by security operatives in Port Harcourt.

    Dickson was quoted as saying that the meeting called for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the disruption of the PANDEF’s meeting.

    Dickson and Clark condemned the action of the security agencies arguing that PANDEF like other organizations had the right as provided by law to hold their meetings.

    He also called on the agencies responsible for the disruption of the meeting to tender an apology to the elders who were embarrassed by the unprovoked reaction from the agencies.

    Dickson said: “Chief Edwin Clark and I just had a meeting on issues affecting the Niger Delta region. In specific terms, the meeting dwelt on the breakdown of law and order, general security in the Niger Delta. We explored how we can step up contacts with the federal government on the one hand and the agitators on the other.”

    The governor said that the meeting also discussed the ongoing efforts to reposition and strengthen the umbrella bodies of Ijaw organizations especially the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC).

  • Threat to resume bombings: Avengers bow to pressure, extend ceasefire by 3 months

    Threat to resume bombings: Avengers bow to pressure, extend ceasefire by 3 months

    Concerned Nigerians can heave a temporary sigh of relief with the decision of the dreaded Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) to suspend its plan to renew attacks on the nation’s oil installations in the oil-rich region.

    The Nation exclusively learnt that some elders and opinion leaders in the region, after various appeals and discussions with the group, have secured an extension of the existing ceasefire by three months to allow the federal government to demonstrate its sincerity.

    While the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) said it had not rested on its oars in its efforts to bring lasting peace, stability and development to the region, the Pan-Niger Delta People’s Congress (PNDPC) said it had interfaced with the agitators and successfully secured a commitment from NDA to extend its ceasefire for three more months.

    Also, Gbaramatu Kingdom, which had taken the brunt of NDA’s hostile actions since it was launched, has sent an appeal to the group to give peace a chance, warning against bringing violent acts near the kingdom.

    National Coordinator of PNDPC, High Chief Mike Loyibo, in a chat with our correspondent in Warri yesterday, said although the agitators had their reasons for calling off the initial ceasefire, the elders and leaders interfacing with them hammered on reasons why peace must be given a chance.

    Loyibo added that the three-month window was meant to allow government prove that it is sincere about its commitment to the region.

    Loyibo, who said the group is not a gang of criminals but a body made up of some of the people he holds in high regards, added that he would wash his hands off the search for peace should the federal government waste this last chance.

    He said: “We have been concerned because the Niger Delta problem is a Nigerian problem. When the Niger Delta is in crisis, Nigeria is in crisis. If we don’t handle it well, it can consume the entire country the same way the leadership of the northern Nigeria, particularly those of the North-East, did not come out to handle the Boko Haram problem, which has now gone international.

    “That is why we as leaders of the Niger Delta area came together to say we must stop this.

    “This last threat did not come from criminals, it came from some of them that I hold in very high esteem, and in the last three days, we have been working day and night; myself, Elder T.K Ogoriba and a few others, to see that we discourage bombing.

    “We have just secured a three-month extension of ceasefire to enable government prove its sincerity for the last time. But if they fail us this time around, someone like me will pull out; I will no longer be involved in this peace process.

    “The boys have said now that we’ve prevailed on them, they will listen again. I can assure you that you will not see bombing or destruction of pipelines and facilities because we have secured extra three months of ceasefire.”

    Stating the efforts so far made by PANDEF, the Coordinator of PANDEF’s secretariat, who is also a member of its Central Working Committee (CWC), Dr Alfred Mulade, said talks were still on with the critical stakeholders, including the Avengers, adding that there was really no need for the group to resume hostilities.

    According to him, “the most important thing is that, just like we accessed them before and they kept to their words and gave PANDEF their mandate to go on to dialogue on their behalf, PANDEF will continue to access them.

    “Avengers are not spirits; they are human beings and indigenes of the Niger Delta. So, if anybody says PANDEF does not know how to access them, that can’t be true.

    “Efforts are being made. PANDEF is not resting on its oars. It is living up to the expectations of Niger Delta people by ensuring that there’s permanent and sustainable peace and to fast-track development in the region, based on equity and justice.

    “As a follow up to all I’ve said, PANDEF is hosting an extraordinary general assembly, particularly to address this security situation. The meeting is coming up on Friday 17th of this month at the PTI Conference Centre, Effurun, Delta State.

    “The meeting is very important because people need to come together to articulate views and find ways of trying to see how this whole matter can be resolved.

    “This is to tell you about the importance PANDEF attaches to peace in the region.”

    Meanwhile, the spokesman of Gbaramatu Traditional Council, Chief Godspower Gbenekama, has appealed to the NDA and all other groups that are agitating to give peace a chance, expressing the hope that the federal government would be moved to act on the Niger Delta issue, especially now that all regions are talking about it.

    He also appealed to the Nigerian armed forces not to see Gbaramatu Kingdom and its people as criminals but as partners with whom they should achieve their task of bringing peace and security to all parts of the country.

    He said: “We are only pleading with the Niger Delta Avengers and all other groups that are agitating that they should still give peace a chance.

    “Rome was not built in a day. We will still live our lives plus or without the federal government. We still believe that the federal government is going to do something.

    “They have made their statement and everybody is talking already; from the north to the south, to the west, to the east, everybody is talking that government’s inaction is causing a lot of anger that is enough for a group.

    “That awareness alone is enough for the Niger Delta people. Let them give this government a chance to do what government has not done in a very long time.

    “Meanwhile, we have also instructed in our communities that since we don’t want any federal government activity to be focused in our area, we have told the community chairmen and our youth leaders and everybody to be on red alert.

    “Should they see suspicious movements or elements around them, they should call the law enforcement agents.

    “Military should look for a way to partner us to see how we can solve this problem and not criminalise us.

    “We are ready to work with the military, provided they don’t criminalise us and then come to destroy our area.”

  • Avengers: Gbaramatu Monarch warns militants to stay off his kingdom

    Avengers: Gbaramatu Monarch warns militants to stay off his kingdom

    …Say Kingdom not at war with Nigeria

     

    The king of Gbaramatu Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Pere Williams Ogoba,Oboro II, has warned operatives of the dreaded Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) and all those aiming to attack oil pipelines, to stay off his kingdom.

    The monarch, who spoke through the spokesman of the Gbaramatu Traditional Council, Chief Godspower Gbenekama, also advised the
    federal government to rein the nation’s military in and call them off his area as his kingdom is not at war with the Nigerian state.

    The warning against the Avengers and all vandals of the nation’s critical facilities came on the heels of fresh apprehension in Gbaramatu over recent deployment of military hardware in the area, including gunboats and military aircrafts.

    Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South-West council area of Delta state has been the Avengers’ theatre of operations since it commenced its
    campaigns against the nation’s oil and gas industry in 2016, destroying several key assets, which severely affected the nation’s oil output.

    But in a statement obtained by The Nation in Warri yesterday, the monarch absolved his kingdom and his people from any connection with
    the dreaded militant group, adding that the group is not welcomed in any part of the kingdom.

    The statement said the monarch had given orders to all chairmen of communities in the kingdom to watch out for strangers or indigenes
    seen close to pipelines in the kingdom, hold such and hand over to security agents.

    “We want to also warn criminals that will want to use the present threat situation to cause confusion in the Gbaramatu kingdom. We
    announce to you that anybody that is caught getting close to pipelines with the purpose of vandalizing pipes will severely dealt with by the
    Gbaramatu kingdom.

    Read: Tension in Gbaramatu as military deploy aircrafts, gunboats

    “The monarch has directed that all chairmen in the kingdom should be vigilant, if they are any person that they don’t know in the kingdom
    or should they see any son of the kingdom that is about carrying out nefarious activities as it affects government facilities should be
    apprehended and handed over to security agents.

    “We don’t support the behaviour of the Avengers to wreck havoc on oil facilities, at the same time, we want to plead with the federal
    government and its agents, especially the military and the navy, please let’s give peace a chance.

    “We are not and we don’t want to be Avengers. We are not in support of the Avengers. All we say is that we want development. Things that the federal government has promised like the Ogoni cleanup, the EPZ project, the maritime university, the Omadino, Okerenkoko, Escravos
    roads and all that the federal government has said they are going to do, let them fast track them. If they do these things, nobody will
    have any opportunity to say want to do anything.

    “I think the inaction of some agencies of the government is the reason why people have opportunity to say they want to protest, but to the
    protesters we continue to plead with your conscience, sheathe the sword, that is not the right way to go. If you destroy all the
    facilities in the Niger Delta, we will suffer for it, we will be the losers, we don’t need to destroy government facilities for government
    to listen to us. Let’s sit down and talk, to jaw-jaw is better than to war-war. I repeat, we are not at war with the federal government

    “Criminals who want to use the present situation to cause an unpleasant situation in Gbaramatu kingdom should leave Gbaramatu
    kingdom alone. Should we get any information that anybody wants to get close to government facilities, our youths are on the lookout, we will deal with such people. The traditional ruler has given directives to the community chairman to ensure that this direct

     

     

  • Fresh crisis looms in Niger Delta as Avengers threaten to resume bombings

    Fresh crisis looms in Niger Delta as Avengers threaten to resume bombings

    Fresh crisis is looming in the Niger Delta region over allegations of unfulfilled promises and corruption levelled against the Federal Government and Office of the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme by  the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) and ex- militants respectively. Following what it described as unfulfilled promises and insincerity on the part of the Federal Government, the NDA said it would soon resume bombings in the region.

    The group, in a statement posted on its website yesterday  also lashed out at former warlord, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, a.k.a Tompolo, and the elders of the Niger Delta region, represented by the PanNiger Delta Forum (PANDEF), for allegedly working against the interest of its struggle. It warned that its operations, which it said would commence soon, would not be without casualties as it was in 2016.

    In the statement signed by its spokesperson, Murdoch Agbinibo, the group blamed the state of things in the region on the failure of the gov ernment to take serious and practical steps towards addressing the region’s woes. “To the elders of the Niger Delta, PANDEF, we warned you against the antics of the Nigerian government yet you requested a chance to broker a new vision for our people.  We told you and the rest of the world that the Nigerian government is only interested in our oil wells and not our well-being yet you told us the signs are different this time around.

    “Instead of allowing us to continue our quest to bring the Nigerian economy to our targeted zero daily produc tion, which recorded huge success; you threatened us with Tompolo to stop the struggle.  Out of respect for elders and not to the threat of Tompolo, we adhered to the call and halted our strike actions hoping that you (PANDEF) would keep your own side of the bargain. “To the Nigerian government, we are aware of Egina FPSO built in South Korea by Samsung meant  to be operated by Total Nigeria is one of the biggest FPSO built in the Asian country. We are aware it has started it’s voyage to the oil fields of the Niger Delta to further exploit us while our concerns are left unattended. We are presently tracking and monitoring its movement; and God willing, it shall not operate successfully amidst the return of the fury of the Niger Delta Avengers.”

    In a related development, 56 ex-militants in Rivers State have called on Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, to investigate alleged irregularities and corruption in the execution of the amnesty programme. In an open letter to the Vice President, the aggrieved ex-agitators said: “We are using this medium to inform you of the irregularities and corruption that have eaten up the vision of the late Pres ident Umaru Musa Yar ‘Adua. Our instant burden stems from the cries of woes occasioned by over 300 members out of whom only 56 of us are courageous to defend and fight for our rights.

    Our names are attached to the Presidential Amnesty Programme official delegated in recent times to Rivers State by the Special Adviser to the President on Amnesty Programme, in the person of Brigadier-General Paul T. Boroh (Rtd). “It is therefore a matter of urgent national importance that you intervene expeditiously before this keg of gunpowder explodes and cause mayhem to the Niger Delta and the nation. We therefore, on behalf of our members urge you to use your good office to speedily intervene in this deplorable situation and ensure the prompt payment of our outstanding monthly stipends and restoration of our names to the amnesty programme.”

  • Ceasefire: No dialogue with Delta govt – Avengers

    Ceasefire: No dialogue with Delta govt – Avengers

    •Says insurgency would be protracted

    The militant group, New Delta Avengers, says it is not negotiating with the Delta State government directly or through groups purporting to represent it.

    Spokesperson for the group, Cpl Olleum Bellum, told The Nation that its High Command’s decision to call off Friday’s resumption of hostilities was borne out of respect for Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, and not because of a peace deal with the government

    The group said it is prepared for a protracted fight, if necessary, saying: “We are ready for as long as it takes; we have materials, equipment and men. We will dig in until the issues we raised are addressed.”

    Bellum said that only proper funding of a development agency, DESOPADEC, and meaningful projects in the oil producing areas would bring peace with the present administration in the state.

    “Our demands are unambiguous. What we ask is the same level of development (in the oil producing communities) as we are now seeing in the north. Did Governor Okowa come to execute a sectional agenda?

    “Now, to your question on whether the ceasefire is permanent, there is nothing in life that is permanent.  The ceasefire is not; only our issues are.”

    The militant group’s spokespersons reiterated the group’s position that the oil-bearing areas are being underdeveloped in favour of the governor’s section of the state.

    Asked on report that it was not disarming despite the ceasefire, he said, “Ultimately, our plan is to ensure that all oil royalties must go directly to producing communities.

    “This idea of the baboon working and monkeys in Asaba and everywhere chopping must stop. Do we expect this to happen overnight? No, we don’t that is why we are poised for a long and lengthy fight to achieve this.

    “We are aware that some persons are pacing left and right and claiming that they are representing the New Delta Avengers. They are doing this to extort money and patronages for themselves.

    “We were very clear in our open letter to Niger Delta leader, Chief Edwin Clark, that our respect for him made us (to) change our mind on the planned attacks.

    “Now what we expect is for those who have called for peace to follow up our offer of peace and do the right thing. We do not trust the state government to do the right thing, but we cannot disobey our fathers.”

    Chief  Clark, who chairs the Pan Niger Delta Elders Forum, a negotiating team between the Niger Delta and federal government, had appealed to the New Avengers to shelve plan to commence its ‘Operation Cripple Delta Oil’, which would have commenced on Friday, June 30.

     

  • Anxiety as Avengers refuses to disarm despite ceasefire

    Despite  calling off its initial plan to resume attacks today on oil installations, the New   Delta Avengers (NDA) has said it would neither disarm nor dismantle apparatus it set up to cripple oil facilities in Delta State.

    The NDA, comprising ex-militants from Delta State had this month regrouped and announced plan to fight alleged underdevelopment of oil communities and withholding of funds due the state Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, by Okowa administration.

    Yesterday morning, it announced suspension of the proposed attacks, citing respect for Niger Delta leader, Chief Edwin Clark, who allegedly offered to mediate in its members’ face-off with Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

    In an open letter to E.K. Clark signed by High Commanders Brandy Ederikumor and Ujato Etomi as well as three others, the group said: “We are aware of the efforts you are making and for this we are grateful and hopeful that we won’t have to go back to the days of rage.

    “In deference to your authority, the highest command of the NDA has decided to shelve our planned attack on major oil facilities in the region from June 30, 2017.

    “But we will not demobilise our armaments, hardware and men from locations where they have been camping since they were dispatched three weeks ago until we are sure of positive result from your intervention.”

    The Nation learnt that caveat in the group’s later had dampened initial enthusiasm about the ceasefire among riverside dwellers, government officials and oil industry operators.

    NDA insisted in the letter that its earlier demands must be met to ensure that their members leave the trenches.

    “We demand that the government must begin projects that reflect the statuses of oil-bearing communities as ‘the geese that lay the golden egg in the state’.

    “We demand similar commitment to payments of contractors handling jobs in Okowa’s areas and those in our land.

    “Okowa must release over N40 billion funds due to the commission since 2015 when he was sworn-in. The laws setting up DESOPADEC is clear on funding; let the Governor give to the oil bearing Communities what is their dues.”

    The letter urged Chief Clark and other leaders of the region, notably PANDEF, to compel the governor to release funds to DESOPADEC and to also show commitment to projects in the oil-bearing areas of the state.

  • Relief as Avengers calls off attack plan on oil facilities

    Relief as Avengers calls off attack plan on oil facilities

    There was relief in Delta State Thursday morning following news that the militant group, New Delta Avenger, had called off its plan to cripple oil production in the state through attacks on oil facilities.
     
    The group had threatened to resume hostilities targeting oil facilities and production platforms in the state following its face-off with Governor Ifeanyi Okowa administration on development of oil communities and funding of the state oil producing areas commission, DESOPADEC.
     
    However, in a volte-face on Thursday morning, the group’s leaders said they were retracting the threat in deference to call for peace by Niger Delta leader, Chief Edwin Clark.
     
    “In deference to your authority on issues involving our development and efforts to change the tide of perpetual underdevelopment and treatment as 2nd class citizens of this nation, the highest command of the NDA has decided to shelve our planned attack on major oil facilities in the region from June 30, 2017,” it said it a statement.
     
    “Without prejudice to any ongoing discussion with the Federal Government, we hope that the window of peace will afford you time to take up the issues as you promised with Delta state government.”
    Five members of the group representing the five allegedly marginalised oil bearing tribes signed the document. They urged Clark to reciprocate their gesture by following up on his promise to ensure justice.
  • Troops’ presence reason behind bombings, says Avengers 

    Troops’ presence reason behind bombings, says Avengers 

    The Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) said yesterday that it resumed its bombings of oil installations because of the continued presence of troops in the Niger Delta.

    According to the group, the continued presence of troops has undermined peace talks between the region’s leaders and the government.

    Leaders of the region including Chief Edwin Clark, and Minister of state Petroleum Ibe Kachikwu, have urged militants to stop the attacks following strikes on the Trans Forcados Pipeline, main contributor to the Forcados crude stream, the most recent of which was claimed by the NDA.

    Most groups have adhered to a ceasefire in the last few weeks while the government held talks with community leaders who, like the militants, want a greater share of Nigeria’s energy wealth to go to the region that produces most of its oil.

    “The Niger Delta Avengers cannot be blamed for the continuous bombing of crude oil export pipelines and other oil installations, since the government has been relentlessly carrying out military build ups to continuously harass communities,” the NDA said on its website.

    President Muhammadu Buhari sent army reinforcements in May to hunt down militants, a move that stoked anger as residents complained of rape, looting and arrests of youths unrelated to the militants, charges denied by the military.

    On Nov. 1, Buhari met leaders from the region since the attacks began. They urged him to withdraw troops, order oil firms to move their headquarters there and spend more on development to end the militancy.

    “The High Command of the NDA is only reacting to government’s deliberate attempts to undermine the process to dialogue and negotiations,” the NDA said in its statement.

    It added that “the path to sustain the cessation of hostilities in the region” could not be achieved “when there are clear cases of deliberate security surge by the Nigerian government”.

    Attacks since the start of the year cut the OPEC member’s oil production by more than a third in the summer.

    But, with attacks becoming less frequent in the last few months, the oil minister said output had recovered to 2.1 million barrels a day. That brought it roughly back to levels before the attacks began.

  • Avengers resume bombing of oil facilities

    Avengers resume bombing of oil facilities

    •Navy: we’re not sure it’s militant attack

    The Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) yesterday said its fighters bombed the Chevron Escravos export pipeline at Escravos offshore in Delta State.

    A statement by its spokesman Brig.-Gen. Murdock Agbinibo said the militants had resumed the bombing of critical oil infrastructure.

    NDA has been observing a ceasefire since the Federal Government indicated interest to dialogue with Niger Delta stakeholders on the challenges in the region.

    The militant group has been accusing the government of insincerity in the dialogue, following alleged militarisation of the region and the recently concluded Operation Crocodile Smiles, in which soldiers stormed the creeks during the ceasefire.

    The Escravos pipeline was among the first oil installations the NDA crippled before the latest attack on the Escravos pipeline.

    NDA said it had warned international oil companies (IOCs) that there should be no repairs of oil facilities pending the end of negotiation and dialogue with the government.

    The statement said: “Today (yesterday), at 3:45 a.m, our Strike Team 06 took down Chevron Escravos export pipeline at Escravos offshore.

    “This action is to further warn all IOCs that when we warn that there should be no repairs pending negotiation/dialogue with the people of the Niger Delta, it means there should be no repairs.

    “Any attempt to use dialogue to distract us in order to allow the free flow of our oil will halt the dialogue.”

    Also, the Commander of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta, Commodore Joseph Dzunve, yesterday said it would be hasty to conclude that the bombing was an attack.

    He said the incident occurred offshore.

    Dzunve said he sent divers to investigate what happened, adding that he would react appropriately after getting the report from the divers.

    He added: “We have not confirmed if it was an attack. But we know that they reported loss of pressure and some confusion. In fact, as I speak, I have sent for Navy divers. It is not even on land; it is offshore. It is not on a platform also; it’s along the line…”

     

    So, it will be hasty to conclude that it’s attack.

    “Well, if some people are claiming responsibility and eventually we find out it was an attack, we’ll know what to do. But for now, we have not concluded that it was an attack. Nobody has even looked inside that water.”