The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Militants

  • Militants attack oil facilities in Delta

    There were signs of threats yesterday to the dialogue between the Federal Government and Niger Delta militants through the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF).

    A militant group, Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate (NDGJM), claimed to have destroyed another oil pipeline in Delta and threatened to do more.

    Also, a new group, the Niger Delta Defence Corps (NDDC), said it would launch many attacks as from tomorrow.

    In a statement by its spokesperson Aldo Agbalaja, NDGJM said it brought down the 32-inch Effurun-Otor pipeline in Ughelli area of Delta State late Saturday night.

    The militants opposed the representatives of the region in PANDEF.

    The statement said it did not object to a dialogue between the Federal Government and the region, adding that such dialogue should be held with reliable people from the region.

    NDGJM said it was collating names from all parts of the region for the dialogue.

    The statement said: “At 23.30 hours (11.30 p.m) on Saturday, October 29, in furtherance of the Operation Hammurabi Code, our Akuma Strike Team struck and brought down the 32-inch Effurun-Otor delivery line. This is not ending soon; we shall fulfil our promise of uprooting your assets in our land.

    “We are reiterating our unflinching belief that the Pan-Niger Delta Forum, being coordinated by E. K. Clark, is a joke and, therefore, can never get our support.

    “Like we said before, the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate is not opposed to a genuine dialogue between the Federal Government and real representatives of the various nations of our region. We are collecting names from the region, those who will sincerely and equitably represent our various peoples.”

    Also, in an online statement by its spokesman Egbe, Niger Delta Defence Corps said its attacks on oil facilities would be carried out simultaneously in Delta and Rivers states.

  • Troops to bomb militants in Ogun, Lagos creeks

    •Recovers over 53,000 jerrycans from Ishawo creek

    Plans are underway by the Nigerian military to launch a major offensive against militants at Ijedodo, Warewa and other new enclaves.

    It was gathered that the miscreants who were in July dislodged from Ishawo, Elepete and Arepo creeks relocated to those new enclaves from where they kidnap and rob residents of Lagos and Ogun states.

    As the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) would soon resume pumping of petroleum product from Atlas Cove to Mosimi, Chairman, Operation AWATSE, Rear Admiral Fergusson Bobai, said nothing would be left to chance.

    During an on-the-spot assessment of the jerrycans evacuation exercise being coordinated by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) at Ishawo creek, Bobai said the military would also embark on  aggressive patrols of the waterways.

    Aside the planned operation, Bobai said the swam buggies were also opening up the waters around Festac for easy access of the small boats newly acquired by the Chief of the Naval Staff  (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas.

    He said: “As of Friday evening, we had on record 53,000 of 50 litres jerrycan from creeks around Ishawo. That was made possible by the grace of the governor, who provided swam buggies to clear the creeks

    to enable LASEMA pull out these jerrycans.

    “As you saw when we got here, there were about three or four waves of jerrycans coming in under the protection of army, navy and other security forces. There are a lot of jerrycans all over the place.”

    On new militants’ hideout in the state, Bobai said the military was aware and ready to take them on.

    “We are aware that the militants are returning and we are ready to take them on. Very soon, petroleum products would be pumped from Atlas

    Cove to Mosimi. That would pose new challenge for us because when we

    embarked on this operation at that time, petroleum products were not

    being pumped and some of them who were out of business started kidnapping.

    “We are going to come in massively to ensure these miscreants are kept at bay. We are making progress to dislodge the miscreants from Ijedodo. We have sought permission from the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) to deploy the might we used to clear Ishawo and Elepete at Ijedodo and we are awaiting his response.

    “Once he gives the go ahead, an offensive would be launched in that area to keep the miscreants away.

    “We are aware some of the gas stations patronise these vandals and we have recommended to the government that the appropriate agency should deal with those filling stations. You can see the lineup of jerrycans here. If you begin to talk about 53,000 50 litre kegs by 50 by 145 by 20 years they have been thriving in the business, that’s a lot of money. So, we have done our own and would continue to do our best.

    “As a military officer, I was instructed by the CDS, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, to remove the shanties and dislodge the miscreants, which we have done and handed over to LASEMA.

    “Honestly, LASEMA has not seen sleep in the last two months. With the swam buggies provided by the governor, they have been working here day and night to mop up the jerrycans and other items left here by the vandals. We are just supporting LASEMA to ensure that they clean up the area.”

    On what the government would do with the jerrycans, LASEMA’s General Manager, Adeniyi Tiamiyu, said they would be sold to recycling companies.

    He supported the residents’ call for a link bridge and active maritime environment, noting that it would be impossible for criminals to hide in the swarms if the waterways were accessible.

    He said: “We would dispose the jerrycans for recycling. It would be dangerous and unethical to burn them around here. So, we have been given the mandate to take them out of here, which is what we would do.

    We would sell them to recycling companies.

    “Our concern is to bring out all remnant of their equipment inside thecreeks. I have gone into the creeks for three hours and I have observed that there are quite a lot of jerrycans still inside the place, all stringed together. Our job is to ensure the job we have been given is done.

    “We do not have the capacity of the terrain to do it, so we engaged the locals. Quite a lot of them are inside the creeks and everyday they bring out kegs and we puncture them.

    “As a government, we would ensure the vandals don’t return. I am sure the military won’t leave here until they are sure the vandals won’t return. We must commend the Nigerian military for doing a great job here.

    “We spoke to some of the community members and they attested that they were under siege before. That they saw young boys carrying guns but couldn’t do anything. Some of the residents were killed, others maimed. So, to them, it’s a big relief the military came in.

    “Another important thing I must tell you is that the whole place is ruined. There are a lot of security check points here too. The bombardment was done without a single member of the community dying.

    It was done with military precision.

    “The community has requested for a link bridge between here and the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, they have also requested that the state should open up the waterways for marine activities. I am sure if it is opened up, it would be difficult for anyone to stay here and carryout nefarious activity. So, our plan is that at the end of the exercise, we would do a report to government, state our observation and make recommendations.”

  • Panic as ‘militants’ blow up pipeline in Edo

    The people of Azaka, Iguiye and neighbouring communities around the Ovia River in Edo State were thrown into confusion on Friday night by an explosion at a facility of the Nigeria Gas Company (NGC) in the area.

    Sources said yesterday that a valve station located around a power line was damaged by the explosion.

    The cause of the explosion was not immediately clear yesterday, residents told our reporter that they suspected that it was the handiwork of militants.

    “We saw pieces of gas cylinder and other things that might have been used to blow up the station,” one local said.

    Mr. Anthony Odoyibo, a farmer in the area, confirmed the report and appealed to Nigerians to give peace a chance.

    “We heard a very loud explosion around 10 or or 11pm. Everybody was very afraid. Some people who went there confirmed that it was the pipeline that was blown up,” Odoyibo added.

    However, no militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack at the time of this report.

  • Panic as ‘militants’ blow up pipeline in Edo

    The people of Azaka, Iguiye and neighbouring communities around the Ovia River in Edo state were thrown into confusion on Friday night as loud explosion erupted at a facility of the Nigeria Gas Company (NGC) in the area.

    It was suspected that a valve station located around a power line was damaged by the explosion.

    Although what caused the explosion was not clear at the time of this report on Saturday morning, some locals told our reporter that they suspect that it was bombed by militants.

    “We saw pieces of gas cylinder and other things that might have been used to blow up the station,” one local said.

    Mr. Anthony Odoyibo, a well known farmer in the area, confirmed the report and appealed to Nigerians to give peace a chance.

    “We heard a very loud explosion around 10 or or 11pm. Everybody was very afraid. Some people who went there confirmed that it was the pipeline that was blown up,” Odoyibo added.

    However, no militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack at the time of this report.

  • Panic as ‘militants’ blow up pipeline in Edo

    The people of Azaka, Iguiye and neighbouring communities around the Ovia River in Edo state were thrown into confusion on Friday night as loud explosion erupted at a facility of the Nigeria Gas Company (NGC) in the area.

    It was suspected that a valve station located around a power line was damaged by the explosion.

    Although what caused the explosion was not clear at the time of this report on Saturday morning, some locals told our reporter that they suspect that it was bombed by militants.

    “We saw pieces of gas cylinder and other things that might have been used to blow up the station,” one local said.

    Mr. Anthony Odoyibo, a well known farmer in the area, confirmed the report and appealed to Nigerians to give peace a chance.

    “We heard a very loud explosion around 10 or or 11pm. Everybody was very afraid. Some people who went there confirmed that it was the pipeline that was blown up,” Odoyibo added.

    However, no militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack at the time of this report.

  • Fed Govt urged to fast-track negotiation with militants

    The Federal Government should fast-track the process of negotiating with the Niger Delta militants, particularly the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), to ensure uninterrupted operations and resumption of oil exploration and production activities in the region stakeholders have said.

    This is coming on the heels of a recent statement by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Emmanuel Kachikwu, that negotiation with the militant groups is ongoing and would be concluded soon.

    A Senior Lecturer, Energy Law, University of Lagos, Dr Dayo Ayoade, urged the government to expedite action on the issue of negotiating with the Niger Delta Avengers in order to end the crisis in the region.

    He said the government saw negotiation as a tool for managing crisis and it should use it well. “There is nothing wrong in government negotiating with the militants in the Niger Delta. The issue does not have legal implication. The Federal Government has the right to protect its people, its assets and other things, hence its decision to negotiate with the militants. President Jonathan did the same thing. However, the government should try and do it in time to avoid bigger crisis,’’ he said.

    Ayoade urged the government to resolve the problem as members of the Nigerian Armed Forces were overstretched fighting Boko Haram insurgents.

    The Niger Delta Avengers had bombed oil facilities belonging to Agip, Chevron, Shell and other International Oil Companies (IOCs).  This has affected crude oil production as well as the capacity of power firms to access gas for generation.

    Also, a Director, Centre for Energy Studies, University of Port Harcourt, Prof Omowunmi Iledare, has urged the government to negotiate with the group in time to save the country from further losses. “It is a terrible thing for the government not to negotiate with criminals. To the best of my knowledge, anybody who overtly or covertly destroys public assets, more so oil and gas pipelines, are criminals and they should be treated that way. You don’t negotiate with criminals. Instead you allow the law to take its course.  Former President Jonathan negotiated with militants in the oil producing areas of Niger Delta.

    Iledare, a former President of International Association of Energy Economist (IAEE) Nigerian Chapter, urged the government to do everything possible to resolve the issue of destruction of oil and gas facilities

  • Militants plotting to colonise Nigeria, says Buhari

    Militants plotting to colonise Nigeria, says Buhari

    •President seeks Germany’s help to tackle oil theft

    President Muhammadu Buhari said yesterday that the objective of the militancy in the Niger Delta region is to colonise Nigeria economically.

    He spoke on Monday during an audience with the Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Germany, Dr Frank-Walters Steinmeier, at the State House, Abuja.

    Noting that the militants are engaging in sophisticated sabotage, Buhari said that efforts were on to dialogue with their leaders.

    Buhari, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said: “But another serious form of insecurity has reared its head in the Niger Delta. The objective is to colonise the country economically by sabotaging oil and gas installations. We are trying to speak with their leaders, to know how many groups there are, and we are also working with the oil companies.”

    “The militants engage in sophisticated sabotage, using skills they had gained from trainings either by government, or the oil companies, to vandalise installations deep in the sea. We need to understand who the real agitators are and engage with them, so that confidence can be restored in the region,” the President added.

    He said that the Niger Delta situation was more complex, since the militants had no central command, and some of them were mere extortioners. He promised that a solution would be found to the unrest soon.

    Buhari said Germany could help curb oil theft in Nigeria through assistance in equipment, training, and sharing of intelligence with the Nigeria Navy.

    “Nigeria’s oil is stolen, and taken away through the Gulf of Guinea. Adequate training and equipping of our navy will prevent this,” he said.

    He told the visitor that the security challenge in the Northeast was under control, with Boko Haram largely defeated.

    Dr Steinmeier, replying, said Germany was happy to hear of the strides taken by the Buhari administration against insurgents in the Northeast, adding that they were equally willing to help in resolving the crisis in the Niger Delta.

    Applauding the war against corruption, Dr. Steinmeier said it had his country’s support, adding that Germany was also interested in investing in renewable energy, gas exploration and mining, among others, to boost Nigeria’s economy.

    “Germany will support development in Nigeria. We want closer cooperation on migration issues, urbanization, and supporting the navy with equipment, training and intelligence,” he said.

  • Militants reject Wike’s amnesty offer

    Militants reject Wike’s amnesty offer

    More militants and cult groups in Rivers State have reiterated their resolve not to be railroaded into accepting the amnesty offered by the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike.

    At the weekend, two groups, Egi Freedom Fighters in the Ogba Egbema Ndoni local government area and the Kalar Bomber in Ikwerre local government area, declined to embrace the amnesty offered by the state government.

    Egi Freedom Fighters insisted that it would not join the state amnesty until their demands are meant.

    Their spokesperson, Jennifer Black, in a statement, insisted they are not a criminal gang and does not indulge in criminal activities.

    Black however said his group resorted to armed struggle as a way of drawing the attention of government and other stakeholders to the age-long oppression, intimidation and injustice against the people of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government area.

    She said the group demanded rebuilding of all houses damaged in Egi communities by alleged security forces sent by some companies in the area and release of all arrested during the raid of Egi community.

    One of the militant leaders from Ahoada East Local government area of the state, who pleaded anonymity, told our correspondent on phone that one of their strong leaders in the area who declined to submit his arms after several pleas was recently murdered.

    The militant, who claimed to be speaking with our correspondent from his hideout, said some members of his group in the arean rejected the amnesty offer.

    He noted that the remains of the assassinated militant thrown into the bush has been recovered and buried with the assistance of group members loyal to him.

    Another group, Kalar Bombers, said the refusal to accept the amnesty programme was because the state government did not enter into agreement with them.

    The leader of the camp, who simply gave his name as Machete, claimed that the ammunition in his camp alone is worth more than N500million, adding that his group will not accept to submit that kind of assets providing food to them just because of state amnesty.

    He said: “We don’t want what happened at the Federal Government amnesty to repeat again.

    “We are very careful; we need three times of the amount of the ammunition in our camp.

    “The ammunitions in our custody are the source of our daily bread. So, if the government is sincere they should invite us.”

    When contacted, chairman of the State Amnesty Programme, Sir Kenneth Chinda, said the position of the militants was not a collective decision of Egi people.

    Chinda, who is also the Special Adviser to the Governor on Amnesty Matters, explained that activities were in top gear to receive repentant militants in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local government area and other LGA.

    “I know too well that it is not a collective decision of all Egi people. I am in Omoku (in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni) and we have mounted a pavilion for the retrieval of arms and ammunition.

    “We have reached out to the other community and we are mobilising them for the event.”

     

  • Military option against militants still open, Buhari warns

    Towards stopping oil pipeline bombings and vandalism in the Niger Delta region, President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday warned that government can still take decisive military action against the militants if dialogue fails.

    He gave the warning while speaking at the passing out parade of the 63rd regular course cadets comprising the first set of Female combatants cadets at the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna State.

    The cadets comprised of 59 personnel for the Nigerian Army, 40 for the Nigerian Navy and 29 for the Nigerian Air Force.

    Buhari stressed that the militants’ attacks have been having adverse and devastating effects on the Nigeria economy.

    According to him, his administration has started cleanup of Ogoniland, which is part of efforts to end militancy in the region.

    He also called on all Nigerians to give peace a chance and join hands with the government to develop the nation.

  • JTF foils kidnap attempt, arrests five militant suspects

    JTF foils kidnap attempt, arrests five militant suspects

    Troops of the Joint Military Force (JTF) deployed to the Niger Delta Operation Delta Safe, have foiled a kidnap attempt, freed two victims and arrested five suspected militants in multiple operations, according to a statement.

    The statement, signed by Lt.-Cdr. Thomas Otuji, Deputy Spokesman, JTF, issued on Friday in Yenagoa, stated that five suspected militants were arrested in the operations by several components of the force in the past 10 days.

    Otuji attributed the successes recorded to distress calls from members of the public.

    ‘’Several illegal refineries were also destroyed during the operations. Troops immediately swung into action and rescued the victims.

    “One Mrs Vanessa Ilepi and Mrs Tega Okoro were kidnapped at gunpoint at Amukpe community in Warri.

    “Effort is ongoing to apprehend the suspected kidnappers who escaped.

    ‘’A locally made single barrel gun was recovered from the arrested suspected kidnapper,’’ he said.

    Meanwhile, troops of Sector 1, Operation DELTA SAFE, have also raided and destroyed illegal refinery sites at Opumami and Okogho creeks in Warri, Otuji stated.

    The spokesman stated that the operators of the illegal refinery abandoned the sites and fled on sighting the patrol boats.

    He said that JTF members found and destroyed 16 cooking pots, two Cotonou boats filled with crude oil and four wooden shelters at the sites.

    ‘’Also one carton of 70 mm ammunition, three pumping machines, two deep freezers, one generator and a 55 Horse-power speed boat were found and destroyed at the site.’’

    According to him, troops on Oct. 4, also discovered and destroyed illegal bunkering sites along Bille creek, Bonny Local Government Area in River during a routine patrol.

    He said that special boat services had been deployed to degrade and fish out elements of Bakassi Strike Force militants tormenting innocent citizens at Bakassi and Akpabuyo Local Government Areas in Cross River.

    “Meanwhile, troops of Sector 4 of Operation DELTA SAFE, while on patrol, apprehended two suspected militants who stole two high-powered boats with outboard engines from boat operators.

    “They were about selling the engines at Aqua Beach when our troops arrested the suspects and handed them to the Nigeria Police for further action.’’

    He further said that the troops had launched an operation at a hideout in Okon Mkpa Community of Efut Esighi, Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River.

    Otuji said that the operation was prompted by a tip-off indicating the presence of some militants in the area.

    “Troops, in company of the special boat services, immediately raided the criminals’ hideouts and apprehended three suspected militants.

    “The following items were recovered at the scene: a Toyota Camry vehicle belonging to one of the suspected militants, sentry duty rosters and 73 wraps of substance suspected to be Indian hemp.

    ‘’A book containing over 30 names of suspected militants’ nominal roll for the scheduled payment of allowances was also found in the car.

    “Preliminary investigation to ascertain the names in the book has commenced,’’ he said.