The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Militants

  • Militants: we’ll launch missiles at Abuja, Lagos, Kaduna

    Militants: we’ll launch missiles at Abuja, Lagos, Kaduna

    •’Tompolo is in Libya’

    A consolidated group of militants, Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force (JNDLF), yesterday, claimed that the six missiles it threatened to commence their launching today would target critical national buildings in three different cities of the country.

    It specifically said the targeted buildings and infrastructures, which it referred to as proceeds from Niger Delta oil, are located in Lagos, Abuja and Kaduna.

    The group also threatened to kill the founder of the Niger Delta Ex-Agitators (NDE), Isreal Akpodoro for linking former President Goodluck Jonathan and Bayelsa State Governor to the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).

    Others the group said were in its searchlight are Mr. Ayiri Emami, Professor Itsay Sagay and a wanted former ex-militant leader, Government Ekpomupolo aka Tompolo who the group claimed now lives in Libya.

    On the missile launch, the group said in an electronic statement that after a final meeting of its commanders, it decided that its missiles should hit the State House, Abuja, Defence Headquarters, Department of State Security (DSS) and the Police Headquarters.

    Others are the National Assembly, NNPC towers, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Supreme Court/Appeal Court, Agip Headquarters, Shell headquarters, Chevron, Exxon Mobil, NLNG in Lagos and Abuja, Kaduna refineries and all military formations in Abuja, Lagos and Kaduna.

    Persons who endorsed the statement for the group identified themselves as ‘General’ Torunanaowei Latei (Creek Network Coordinator); ‘General’ Agbakakuro Owei-Tauro (Pipeline Bleeding Expert); ‘General’ Akotebe Darikoro (Commander, General Duties) and ‘General’ Pulokiri Ebikade (Intelligence Bureau).

    The militant group said it resolved that as a precaution, it would shut down the Nigerian Communication Satellite Orbit before launching the missiles to avoid electronic radiation to human lives.

    It said its motive is not to shed human blood but to destroy all infrastructure built with oil and gas proceeds, warning occupants of the named buildings to vacate in their own interests.

    It said the planned action is to make the Federal Government and oil companies suffer the way the Niger Delta region had been plagued by environmental degradation and pollution.

    The group said: “We shall fire these missiles simultaneously at the night, as this will enable every Nigerian to see the movement of the missiles and equally to believe us of our seriousness attached to the final breakup as predicted by the United States of America (USA).”

    “We equally advise the Diplomatic Community to be neutral on this issue as wrong comments against us will be seen as saboteurs. Where they are staying presently will not be affected which is not part of our targeted areas of destruction in the country.

    “We shall embarrass the self acclaimed Nigerian Air Force with their recent deployment of fighter aircraft, helicopter gunship and surveillance aircraft when at this digital age, countries are talking about Missile development, and they still condescend so low of their present obsolete equipment.

    “Note, we are going to destroy the ones they have deployed to Escravos, Forcados in Delta State; Bonga oil field, Agbami offshore and Brass in Bayelsa; Bony in Rivers; Qua Iboe Terminal in Akwa Ibom State, and Opuekeba in Ondo State if they fails to remove them before time.

    “We are not in any community. The military can’t locate Tompolo but we have identified where he is now. Tompolo is in Libya and we’ll get him dead or alive for betraying us in supporting the Federal Government against us.”

  • Ministers, govs begin talks with N’Delta militants

    Ministers, govs begin talks with N’Delta militants

    The Presidency yesterday hinted that ministers from the Niger Delta region and governors in the South-South states were holding discussions with the Niger Delta Avengers on how to end the group’s attacks on oil installations in the area.

    Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang, gave the hint in a chat with newsmen in Abuja.

    Enang said: “The Minister of Niger Delta, the Minister of Interior and the Coordinator of the Amnesty Office have been taking actions consistent with their powers.

    “Almost all the ministers and officials from the Niger Delta region have returned to their respective states, their respective zones and their respective blocks to talk to their leaders and their aggrieved persons on the need for us to maintain peace.

    “That is going on and they are the representatives of Mr. President. So, I will not tell you what Mr President wants to do in person but these are officers and offices which are dealing on this matter.

    “What I know they have done, which some of us are involved in doing by virtue of coming from that zone and by virtue of working with them, is telling our people that the economy of the country is bleeding and the nation is hemorrhaging.

    “That we cannot, given the low price of oil, go on certain actions that will further reduce the earnings of Nigeria. We have lost earnings in terms of price; we shouldn’t lose earnings in terms of production.

    “I am sure that you are aware that we budgeted 2.2 million barrels per day and production few weeks ago lowered to 1.4 million per day and it is climbing to 1.6 and 1.7 million barrels per day and that is capable of affecting the money expected from oil.

    “These are the things we are preaching to our people and preaching to the governors of our respective states.

    “The Minister of Niger Delta, the Amnesty Office, the Minister of Interior are all carrying these messages to the governors that they should stand up and work and not sit down and watch

     

  • UN condemns Al-Shabaab attack on Mogadishu hotel

    The UN Security Council has condemned the June 1 terrorist attack, which Al-Shabaab militants carried out on the Ambassador Hotel, Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital city.

    In a UN statement issued on Friday, the Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constituted one of the most serious threats to international peace and security.

    It stated that those responsible for these killings should be held accountable.

    The Council stressed the need to take measures that would prevent and suppress the financing of Al-Shabaab and other terrorist groups in Somalia.

    It reiterated its determination to support the peace and reconciliation process in Somalia, stressing that neither this nor any other terrorist attack would weaken that determination.

    A bomb and gun attack by Al-Shabaab militants on the hotel killed at least 16 people and wounded 55.

     

  • Militants kill two soldiers, 5 others in boat house attack

    Militants kill two soldiers, 5 others in boat house attack

    Militants have attacked a military house boat at Ejere Junction, a creek in Warri South council area of Delta State, killing seven people, including two soldiers.

    The killings have heightened the tension in the oil-rich Niger Delta where oil facilities have been attacked. Nigeria’s output has been badly affected.

    The Nation gathered that five boats, loaded with heavily armed insurgents, stormed an isolated boat house, located inside the creek around Omadino, an Itsekiri community, at about 8:00pm and opened fire on the occupants, killing all those onboard, except a civilian, who reportedly died on the way to the hospital.

    There was no claim of responsibility for the Wednesday attack.

    A community source said the attack happened at about 8:00pm. He said all occupants of the boat, whom he thought to be soldiers, were killed.

    “An army security house boat was attacked and all the security men inside were killed last night at Omadino, by pipeline, here. This happened around 8 in the evening,” he said.

    Another source, from one of the military formations in Warri said those in the house boat were not all soldiers. There were civilians, who rendered various types of services aboard.

    A military source from Warri, who confirmed the development, told The Nation that two soldiers and five civilians died in the attack. He said most of the men stationed at the house boat had gone on pipeline patrol when the attackers came.

    According to the source, although outnumbered by the assailants, the soldiers who were left on the boat when the attackers came gave their best, ensuring that the assailants did not leave without a bloody nose.

    He said: “The report is true. They came in five speed boats. They were many and, unfortunately, when they got there, some of the soldiers were on pipelines patrol. When the attackers got there, the man on sentry did his best, but, unfortunately, because of their number they opened fire to kill the civilians inside the house boat. There were four civilians and two soldiers, making six.

    “The seventh person, who happened to be a civilian, was rushed to Oghara (the Delta State University Teaching Hospital). Getting to Oghara, they found out that the hospital was on strike. Before he could be rushed back to Warri, his situation had deteriorated. You know the distance between Warri and Oghara; that was how he gave up the ghost.

    “Our people also got some of them down, but as they wouldn’t like to leave any of their casualties behind, we can’t ascertain, but the soldiers tried their best in reducing their number”, the source said.

    The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 4 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Benin, Captain Jonah Unuakhalu, in a statement, said two soldiers were killed, one injured, another one missing and four civilians rendering services on the house boat, were also killed.

    “At about 5:50pm on 1 June 2016, Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) Houseboat deployed at Ejere junction in Warri South Local Government Area was attacked by suspected armed militants group. The suspected militants approached the Houseboat in five (5) speed boats mounted with 250 horse power engines and disguised as normal commuters. During the deliberate attack, two soldiers were killed, one wounded, one soldier missing while four civilian officials attached to the house boat were shot dead. The attack occurred when other members of the troops were on pipeline patrol.

    “The Brigade condemns the attack on our personnel carrying out their constitutional duties and other innocent employee. The Brigade will not be deterred by such dastardly acts, but will remain resolute in discharging its constitutional duties. Furthermore, those who carried out the criminal acts will surely be sought, apprehended and brought to justice,” the army spokesman said.

    At the Warri Central Hospital, the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mrs. Success Obere, confirmed that the bodies of some military men and civilians were brought to the morgue, but could not give the exact number.

    It was, however confirmed that three soldiers and four civilians were dopsited at the morgue.

    A student of Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe-Oghara, Richard Ebiayaidou, was mourning his 26 years old brother, Tombra Iwoboibi who he said, was a cook in the house.

  • Militants threaten to launch six missiles in Niger Delta

    Militants threaten to launch six missiles in Niger Delta

    A consolidated group of militants under the aegis of the Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force (JNDLF) yesterday, threatened to launch six missiles in the Niger Delta.

    The group said it would begin the testing of its six missiles, which would last for three days, on June 7.

    Though it did not disclose the nature of the missiles, it warned that no airplanes should fly in and out of the country within the period. The weapons are, according to the group, capable of hitting any object despite its size.

    It said its fighters, trained for that purpose, had already arrived in the region with its foreign partners through what it described as the country’s porous borders.

    The group, in an electronic statement, said it took the decision to further wreack havoc in the region at a meeting attended in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, by its commanders.

    The militant group said Bayelsa State, not Delta State, is the command base of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) and warned the Commissioner of Information and Orientation in Bayelsa, Mr. Jonathan Obuebite, to stop criticising the NDA.

    The group, in the statement which repeatedly referred to President Muhammadu Buhari as Pharaoh, said the highest organ of JNDLF, the Joint Revolutionary Council (JRC), concluded that the launching of the missiles would signal its readiness for the final break-up of the country.

    Signatories to the statement identified themselves as ‘General’ Torunanaowei Latei (Creek Network Coordinator); ‘General’ Agbakakuro Owei-Tauro (Pipeline Bleeding Expert); ‘General’ Akotebe Darikoro (Commander, General Duties) and ‘General’ Pulokiri Ebikade (Intelligence Bureau).

    The group said: “After extensive and exhaustive deliberation by all commanders of

    various groups in Yenagoa, the heart of the Niger Delta struggle met last night and as part of our mission, we are going to test six (6) of our missiles in the region. This is to show the Federal Government our readiness for the American prediction.

    “There should be no form of helicopter to fly around in the region as we will not guarantee the safety of such object. The people of the Niger Delta region should not panic in the course of test running the six missiles.”

    The group said it might decide within the week to shut down the Nigerian satellite orbit to disable communication in the country, warning that within its three days of launching the missiles no airplanes should fly in and out of the country.

    It said: “Our struggle is not for any human blood, but we have been pushed to

    the wall for justice because our patience is running out daily basis as Nigerian uniform men kill our innocent people continuously.

    “Nigerian military should as a matter of urgency leave peacefully the Ijaw communities they are presently in, the next 48 hours under the guise of searching for the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) or else we should not be blamed for whatever catastrophe that may befall such officers and the likely affected families of the officers should not blame

    the region.

    “We have consulted our war gods (deities) that enough is enough and that the time has come. Since the present Pharaoh of Nigeria, President Buhari is to preside over the disintegration of the country it is a good omen.

    “Henceforth, any attack on Ijaw communities or person(s) by the military or para-military body in the region, we will not hesitate to order our shoot-at-sight squad of any uniform personnel in the region.”

    It added: “We ask all Service Chiefs, including Minister of Defence to shamefully resign their positions because Nigeria has no security in whatever form. Bravo to our Foreign Marine Crack Team for their ability to shut down Nigerian obsolete surveillance equipment.”

  • Seven die as gunmen attacks Military boat in Delta

    Seven die as gunmen attacks Military boat in Delta

    Insurgents in the Niger Delta drew the first blood in the escalating security situation in oil-rich region Wednesday night when a band of armed persons attacked a military house boat in a creek near Omadino community, Warri South council area of Delta state, killing 7 people, including 2 soldiers.

    The Nation gathered that five boats, loaded with heavily armed insurgents, stormed an isolated boat house, located inside the creek around Omadino, an Itsekiri community, at about 8:00pm, opened fire on the occupants, killing all those aboard, except for one civilian, who reported died later while being taking to the hospital.

    There was yet to be any claim of responsibility by either the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), the insurgent group, which had in recent times pitted itself against the federal government by destroying oil and gas facilities or any other group for that matter.

    Reliable sources, all of whom preferred to be kept anonymous, confirmed the development to the Nation, some with more detailed facts than the others.

    A community source, said the attack happened at about 8:00pm, claiming all occupants of the boat, whom he thought to be soldiers, were killed.

    “An army security house boat was attacked and all the security men inside were killed last night, at Omadino by pipeline here. This happened around 8 in the evening”, he said.

    Another source, from one of the military formations in Warri, however revealed that the house boat was not all soldiers, but that there were civilians, who render different types of services aboard.

    A military source from Warri, who confirmed the development, told the Nation that two soldiers and five civilians lost their lives in the attack.

    He said most of the men stationed at the house boat had gone on pipeline patrol when the attackers came.

    According to the source, although outnumbered by the assailants, the remaining soldiers who were left on the boat when the attackers came gave their best by giving a frantic fight, adding that the assailants did not leave without a bloody nose.

    “The report is true. They came in five speed boats, they were many and unfortunately when they got there, some of the soldiers were on pipelines patrol. When the attackers got there, the man on sentry did his best and the rest, but unfortunately, because of their number they opened fire to kill the civilians inside the house boat. There were four civilians and two soldiers, making six.

    “The seventh person, who happened to be a civilian, was rushed to Oghara (the Delta State University Teaching Hospital), getting to Oghae, they found out that the hospital was on strike. Before he could be rushed back to Warri, his situation had deteriorated; you know the distance between Warri and Oghara that was how he gave up the ghost.

    “Our people also got some of them down, but as they wouldn’t like to leave any of their casualties behind, we can’t ascertain, but the soldiers tried their best in reducing their number”, the source said.

    However, efforts to get the Commanding Officer of the 3 Battalion, Effunrun Barracks, Major Monday Anzaku and the Army Public Relations Officer (APRO) of the 4 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Benin, Captain Jonah Unuakhalu, for confirmation and comments were unsuccessful as both men were unreachable.

  • Militants blow up oil wells

    Militants blow up oil wells

    Militants have attacked two major oil facilities in Delta State, it was learnt yesterday.

    They are RMP23 and RMP24, operated by oil giant Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), at the Opia/Ikia axis of the Dibi/ Olero oil fields in Egbema Kingdom of Warri North council area.

    The militant group, Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), in early morning tweets, claimed responsibility for the destruction of the facilities, bragging about how the reported deployment of heavy military equipment to the Niger Delta had failed to curtail its strikes.

    “With the heavy presence of 100 gunboats, four warships and jet bombers, NDA blew up Chevron oil well RMP23 and RMP24 at 3:44 am this morning. This is to show the whole world that Nigerian military is good in harassing innocent civilians. RMP23 and RMP24 are Chevron’s swamp highest producing wells,” the group said in three tweets.

    Although the tweets, through the insurgent group’s regular handle @NDAvengers did not specify where the attacks were carried out, sources told The Nation that the attacks were in Warri North council area. These are the first incidents in Egbema Kingdom and outside Gbaramatu Kingdom.

    Confirming the development in a telephone conversation in Warri yesterday, a source told The Nation that the incident occurred between 3:15am and 4:45am, adding that there was no gunfight between the insurgents and security operatives.

    “It was in Warri North, Egbema Kingdom, at Opia/Ikia axis, around Dibi/Olero. It started from around 3:15 till around 4:45 this morning. There was no shootout heard,” the source, who did not want his name mentioned, said.

    The Secretary of the Egbema/ Gbaramatu Foundation, Jude Ukori, described the development as “most unfortunate”, saying Egbema Kingdom would never subscribe to violence such tactics, as being used by the insurgents. He pleaded with the militants to stop the attacks.

    Ukori said: “I heard there was a blowout this morning, but I am yet to get the details. We want to appeal to those behind these activities to desist. Egbema is not home to militancy and we don’t want to be part of it. We have always being cooperative with security agencies, but we are not security agents and we do not have what it takes to face whoever is behind this destruction; we can only appeal for peace.”

    Asked for comments, Chevron General Manager (Policies, Government and Public Affairs) Prince Deji Haastrup said: “We will not be making any comments on the ongoing situation,” Haastrup said.

  • Army: no talks with militants

    Army: no talks with militants

    Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai has ruled out negotiations with the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), arguing that the government’s strategy is to first smoke them out of hiding.

    Gen. Buratai spoke in Abuja yesterday at the “state of the nation conference” organised by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

    Gen. Buratai, who was represented by Major General J. Hamakim, justified the ongoing onslaught against members of the NDA.

    The Army chief faulted the criticism of security agencies in the handling of Monday’s protests by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Onitsha, which resulted in some deaths.

    “I quite agree that dialogue is very important. But, where it is not too obvious that the adversary is ready to come out and talk, you can also force such a person.

    “I think that is what the Nigerian Army is trying to do. Yes, we don’t know the group’s leaders for now. That is the only option. Possibly, we have to bring the people out to know who you can dialogue with,” Gen. Buratai said.

    He said the activities of the group were affecting the nation’s oil production, which has plummeted to 1.1 million barrels per day.

    On the clash in Onitsha, the army chief said: “Remember that lives were lost; policemen were killed; some were thrown overboard and the military has rules of engagement.

    “The question is how peaceful is the peaceful demonstration. How peaceful was the demonstration at that time? If it was that peaceful, how come we lost security agents?

    “The rule of engagement is that if you feel threatened, you have the mandate to respond. What we can say is, that was not at all a demonstration that you can say was peaceful.”

    Gen. Buratai noted that other security agencies had been “overwhelmed”, a situation he attributed to the constant involvement of the army in most security operations.

    He said the Armed Forces, which ordinarily were the last line of defence, are now engaged as the first line of defence because other security agencies have been overstretched.

    The Chief of Army Staff said the army is executing three operations – Lafiya Dole (against Boko Haram in the Northeast);Sharandaji (against cattle rustlers) and Pulo Shield (against Niger Delta Avengers).

    The Comptroller General of Prisons, Ahmed Ja’afaru argued that the neglect of the prison system accounts for the current “unimaginable” crime situation in the country.

    Represented by Ifedi Orakwe, Ja’afaru urged the National Assembly to urgently pass the Prison Reform Bill to allow the prison system contribute effectively to the criminal justice system.

    Ja’afaru, who warned against seeing the anti-corruption war as solely that of the President, argued that should the current administration fail in its efforts to curb impunity, the nation “is on a roller-coaster to cataclysim”.

    Also speaking at the conference, the Secretary of the Presidential Committee on Anti-corruption, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, said anti-corruption agencies have only secured convictions of “small fries” in the past one year.

    “If big fish do not go to jail, impunity will continue to rise. We must send big fish to jail. It is important to make this point, because it encourages impunity when a category of people present themselves as if they are above the law.

    “So, imposing sanction and enforcement is very important, and that involves the cooperation of everybody, who is a player in the system: including the prosecution, the defence, the Judiciary and the prison authorities,” he said.

    Owasanoye, who gave details of government’s anti-corruption efforts, said it was emphasising assets recovery and putting in place measures to prevent leakages.

    “In Nigeria’s case, the priority is to return the stolen assets. And this is where the logics are. If you inherit a government that is very broke and your revenue source is going down and yet you have some individuals within the system, who are virtually richer than the state, what are you going to do? You have to go after them and retrieve the money they have stolen. And so, that is the strategy.

    “That is, of course, the strategy that the government is pursuing. It is not just by taking stock of the looters, but also by blocking leakages and haemorrhage in the system, which hitherto allowed outflow of public funds,” he said.

    Some of such measures, he said, include the introduction of Treasury Single Account (TSA), eliminating ghost workers, avoiding double or over budgeting, reducing cost of governance, reducing the size of government without sacking workers and eliminating budget padding, among others.

    Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Adeniyi Akintola faulted the trial of military personnel named in corruption cases in the regular court.

    NBA President Augustine Alegeh (SAN) said the event was not meant to criticise the government, but to afford stakeholders the opportunity to assess its activities within the last one year and suggest ways of improvement.

    Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara assured of the National Assembly’s readiness to support the Federal Government’s anti-corruption efforts.

    Represented by a member of the House of Reps, Linda Ikpeazu, Dogara assured that his arm of the National Assembly will ensure speedy passage of the Prison Reform Bill.

    Also at the event were Chief Judge of Kogi State, Nasiru Ajana, former Attorney General of Ekiti State Olawale Fapohunda and Dauda Usman, who represented the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS).

     

  • Militants: we’ll attack oil companies, their workers, military

    Militants: we’ll attack oil companies, their workers, military

    The Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) yesterday threatened to begin bloody attacks against oil companies, their personnel and the military.

    The militant group, in a statement signed by its spokesperson, ‘Brig.Gen’ Mudoch Agbinibo, also taunted the wanted former ex-militant leader, Government Ekpumpolo aka Tompolo over the military siege on his community, Gbaramatu in Delta State.

    Murdock claimed that instead of going after the avengers, the military was looking for soft targets through its siege on Gbaramatu.

    He further claimed that the intelligence of the group revealed that the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Capt. Okunbor Idahosa; Brigadier Commander, Benin, Maj. Farouk Yahaya; the Officer Commanding, Army Gunboat, JTF, Major M.B. Yahaya in collaboration with Ayiri Emami, were behind the siege on Gbaramatu.

    Murdock said: “It is not our business what goes on in Gbaramatu Kingdom but our concern is the innocent children, women and aged people whom the Nigerian military has chased away from their homes now taking refuge in the forest. We warned you beforehand that the Nigerian government can never be trusted.

    “The question is, why the innocent people of Gbaramatu, why the innocent pregnant women? Why make the innocent people of Gbaramatu suffer? This act of the Nigerian Army to us is the greatest act of cowardice. This fight we believe is against the Avengers and not the innocent villagers of Gbaramatu Kingdom.

    “Where is the International Community and the United Nations when all these unspeakable injustice is served the people of Gbaramatu Kingdom by the very unprofessional Nigerian Military? Are they not aware of the raping of young girls, looting and destruction of properties by the Nigeria military in Gbaranmatu kingdom?

    “As for you Tompolo, what do you have to say about the horrible treatment meted on your people by Nigerian Military?  We respect the love you have for your people the Niger Delta. Has the wealth you acquire made you soft that you don’t know what to do anymore?”

    Murdock said the military would not intimidate the group by harassing innocent people in the Niger Delta describing Gbaramatu as just one kingdom in Delta State.

    “The Niger Delta is made up of seven states, it is therefore very funny to lure us to halt our well-planned line of actions that will shock the whole world by harassing innocent villagers.

    “Is the Nigeria military now a hired gun for the rich? The Amnesty International should take note of these officers who authorized the harassing of the innocent people of Gbaranmatu.

    “To the international oil companies and indigenous oil companies, it’s going to be bloody this time around. Your facilities and personnel will bear the brunt of our fury, which shall fall upon you like a whirling wind.”

     

     

  • Military deploys fighter jets in hunt for Avengers

    Military deploys fighter jets in hunt for Avengers

    There was panic in the creeks of Bayelsa State following sudden presence of fighter jets and surveillance aircrafts which hovered in some coastal communities in search of hideouts of the militant group, Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).

    It was gathered that the military planes were sighted in some the communities in Southern Ijaw where most of the attacks on pipelines and killing of soldiers occurred recently.

    A resident from Ondewari, a community in the council, said the sight and sounds of the jets caused tension in the area.

    He said some residents were already getting ready to seek refuge in the mangrove following fears of possible bombardments when the jets disappeared.

    “We noticed the jets in the morning. They were military jets. We were afraid and most people were thinking of taking cover when suddenly they flew away. We are still afraid that they may come back. We can’t forget the Odi experience”, he said.

    But the umbrella body of Ijaw youths, the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) immediately condemned the presence of the fighter jets in the creeks.

    The IYC President, Mr. Udens Eradiri, after an emergency meeting of the council, in Yenagoa, said the jets were also sighted in some parts of the state capital and Gbaramatu in Delta State.

    He urged the military to apply caution in their operations and warned against the strategy of intimidating Niger Delta residents.

    Eradiri said the  crisis would not be resolved by deploying fighter jets adding that intelligence was a better strategy of dealing with the activities of the militants.

    He said the council was happy with the President when he said in his May 29 broadcast that he would engage the stakeholders in the region to resolve the crisis.

    He said: “Ijaw people are peaceful people. Ijaw people are not avengers. These jets flying around Yenagoa and Gbaramatu, the avengers are not in these places. We just hope that they were just passing. But if it is hovering around, it means that something is about to happen.

    “The military should use more of intelligence so that you don’t go around destroying communities. We call on the military to withdraw its tactic of intimidation in Ijaw land.

    “Jet fighters will not solve the problem. The economy is in a terrible  forecast and we must do everything to save it. We are at the receiving end of the activities of these militants. Why are we also being intimidated”.

    He said the Niger Delta region was not interested in pipeline surveillance insisting that only true federalism would solve the problem in the region.