The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Niger Delta Militants

  • Tinubu to Nigerians: Let’s embrace our diversity

    Tinubu to Nigerians: Let’s embrace our diversity

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has impressed on the citizenry the need to embrace the country’s cultural diversity in order to boost its socio-economic growth and development.

    The president spoke yesterday in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, at the chieftaincy ceremony of the newly installed Asiwaju of Ijebuland, Chief (Dr.) Sulaiman Adebola Adegunwa, foremost industrialist and philanthropist.

    Tinubu who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who arrived in the company of the Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun, acknowledged cheers from a packed audience at the Ijebu-Ode mini stadium.

    Apparently moved by the rich tapestry of cultural displays and convivial atmosphere, President Tinubu said the country was very unique in its own way and this calls for greater understanding of everybody to continue to ensure mutual coexistence.

    In his glowing tribute to the Ijebu-Ode born entrepreneur, Shettima described him in superlative adjectives, even as he acknowledged his diligence, resilience, and resourcefulness.

    Read Also; I survived fighting Boko-Haram, Niger Delta militants, IPOB – Anambra CP

    While noting that Chief Adegunwa is a legend, and one of the greatest sons of Africa, Ijebuland, and Nigeria as a whole, Shettima recalled that their paths crossed two years ago when he was hosted to a dinner at the country home of the Adegunwas in Ososa.

    According to him, one of the testaments to the celebrator’s love for humanity is the different Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives that dot the landscape across the country.

    “Chief Adegunwa is a man worthy of emulation and certainly deserving of the title being bestowed on him and his wife, Mrs Fatima Adegunwa. On this joyous occasion, I pray may your leadership bring peace, love, and progress to Ijebuland,” he stressed.

    Speaking earlier, Ogun State Prince Dapo Abiodun who heaped encomiums on the Adegunwas said the couple was most deserving of the title of Asiwaju and Yeye Asiwaju/Arobake of Ijebuland.

    He said: “It is indisputably correct that Dr. Adegunwa and his wife duly deserve this honour from all indications going by what they have contributed to  humanity and enduring legacies.

    “The main contributions of the Adegunwas to the real sector of Nigeria’s economy are indeed unquantifiable and worthy of commendation. Baba Adegunwa’s business and philanthropic activities span over six decades.”

    Expatiating, Governor Abiodun who said Baba Adegunwa was a forward-thinking person, recalled that the latter was able to easily diversify into other areas including banking, real estate, agriculture, and education because he moved with the times.

    “Baba knew that it was time to move beyond the photo laboratory and soon went into the food business and today he is the Chairman of Rite Foods. The seed of growth and degree of Rite Food across the country is unbelievable. Baba’s slogan is I can and I‘m.”

    Abiodun who expressed optimism that the new Asiwaju would bring his immense wealth of experience to bear on his role to the admiration of the people of Ijebuland, thanked the Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona II, for the well-deserved honour to the Adegunwas.

    In his acceptance speech, the celebrator who was effusive with praises for the royal father and the council of chiefs assured that he would live to their expectations.

    Chief Olorogun Sunny Kuku, who spoke on behalf of the Awujale shortly after the conferment of the chieftaincy titles on the Adegunwas, said the latter has continued to promote the ideas and ideals of socioeconomic development to the admiration of all.

    Among the list of dignitaries at the event included former President Olusegun Obasanjo; Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN, Minister of State for Health, Dr. Tunji Alausa; Ogun State Deputy Governor, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele; former Ogun Governors Segun Osoba and Gbenga Daniel, as well as former Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, and a host of others.

  • Steps that ended Niger Delta militancy, IPOB secessionist plot – Osinbajo

    …Nigeria’s foundation deficient, threatened, say Monarchs

     

     

    The Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday said that the intervention by traditional rulers at the wake of bombing of oil installations by the Niger Delta militants and the secessionist uprising in the South East was the panacea that brought relative peace in the two regions.

    He spoke in Abuja while declaring open the 10th National Development Summit of Nigerian Traditional Rulers.

    According to him, the natural rulers have played crucial roles at the point that the country was threatened by the Niger Delta militants and the separatist group, Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.

    Read Also:FG to assist, compensate victims of Jibia flooding – Osinbajo

    He challenged traditional rulers in Nigeria to take greater responsibility in resolving conflicts in the country, saying dialogue and engagements are as just as important as law enforcement in tackling disputes.

    He said that traditional rulers were better placed “to champion this vision of continuing dialogue and engagement because of the respect you command from the widest possible range of stakeholders and parties.

    Osinbajo said “Dialogue and engagement are just as important as law enforcement, especially in situations triggered by misunderstandings and disagreements between people and communities who have existed peacefully side-by-side for centuries.”

    The vice president also said even though the law enforcement agencies are critical elements in deterring criminality and ensuring that perpetrators are brought to justice, overlooking the place of non-coercive conflict prevention and resolution mechanisms would do a great disservice to the people of Nigeria.

    He said, “You are also repositories of important intelligence that can be useful in detecting suspicious or criminal activity. The partnership between traditional authority and government is therefore crucial.”

    According to him, it was in recognition of this critical role of traditional rulers that informed government’s approach to dealing with Nigeria’s most pressing security issues in the Niger Delta and in the Middle Belt.

    “I can say without fear of contradiction that the New Vision for the Niger Delta would not have happened without the support of traditional rulers and leaders in the region. We have made it a priority to meet with them and carry them along, and ask for their wisdom and their support in resolving issues with stakeholders and communities. This was also our approach in the wake of secessionist agitation by IPOB in the South East.”

    He said government has been engaging traditional rulers in the flashpoint regions, counting on the influence they wield to chart a new and collective course of understanding, instead of the default approach of resorting to violence as a way of dealing with grievances.

    “As custodians of our rich history, we also believe that you have a duty to remind us of the things we have got right in the past, but from which, for some reason or another, we have departed from, to our detriment,” he stated.

    The vice president said Nigeria’s traditional cultures had long ago perfected timeless dispute-resolution and community-engagement mechanisms that are now under threat of being lost forever.

    “As traditional rulers, your forebears and ancestors were the initiators and implementers of many of these mechanisms, and our cultural institutions have evolved ways of passing this knowledge down the generations – even if we have not been paying attention as we should.

    “May I therefore most respectfully ask that you take this as a call to you, as royal fathers, as traditional rulers, as elder statesmen, to commit yourselves to deepening your partnership with government, to achieve our shared goal of laying the foundation of peace and security that will guarantee true greatness for Nigeria.” he added

    The Traditional Rulers at the summit expressed fears that the foundation of Nigeria as established by the founding fathers had been visibly deficient and threatened.

    They also said that the only way the country could be made great was when the leaders and different ethnic nationalities resolve to build a nation on a foundation of equity, justice, fairness, labour and high moral standards.

    In his welcome address, Chairman of Governing Council of the National Development Summit of Traditional Rulers, His Royal Majesty, Dr. Emmanuel Sideso Abe called for more roles for traditional rulers by the government.

    The monarch said it was disheartening that the constitutional review embarked upon by the National Assembly had remained inclusive for over a decade, while resolutions at the recent national conference, have not been considered for adoption in the interest of national survival and progress.

    Dr. Abe who is the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom of Delta State, said the country needs a good leader that will create jobs and build bridges, adding that as a result of the security challenges in the country, most traditional rulers were unable to attend the summit that started with over 400 members when it was inaugurated by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua ten years ago.

    He said that the country was born with incredible potentials neither uncommon ideals that could make it soar into greatness, adding that Nigeria was not meant to crawl or stagnate.

    He said “Here is a country born with incredible potentials, established on goodness and trust, with uncommon ideals and dreams that could make her soar into high altitudes of greatness. Like the eagles, Nigeria was born with powerful wings, in the form of enormous natural endowments. Nigeria was never meant to crawl or stagnate.

    “Whatever we may say or do the fact remains that our foundation as a nation as designed by our founding fathers has been visibly deficient and threatening. Administrations come and go but none has been courageous enough to address conclusively the issue of structural flaws.

    “We cannot do anything against the truth. The only way the eagle will fly is for it to realize that it is gifted with better wings than other birds and make a decision to use the wings effectively.

    “We must resolve to build a new nation on a foundation of equity, justice, fairness, labour and high moral standards. This is what makes the United States of America and other advanced economies to tick.

    “It is amazing how constitutional review has remained inclusive for over a decade at the National Assembly in spite of the exigency of the matter. It is equally disheartening that the resolutions of all recent national conferences were never considered for adoption in the interest of national survival and progress, the huge funds sunk in these projects notwithstanding,” he said.

  • Niger Delta militants withdraw quit notice 

    Niger Delta militants withdraw quit notice 

    The coalition of Niger Delta militants, Friday, withdrew a quit notice they issued to northerners and Yorubas to leave the region on or before October 1st.

    The Pan Niger Delta People’s Congress (PNDPC), a new group with the mandate to negotiate for the Niger Delta with the Federal Government and other interested stakeholders, said the issuers of the quit notice gave them the mandate to withdraw it.

    The coalition of the militants initially disbanded the Chief Edwin Clark-led Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) after passing a vote of no confidence in it and constituted PNDPC as the new negotiator for the region.

    The militant groups appointed His Royal Majesty Pere Ayemi-Botu, Paramount Ruler of Seimbiri Kingdom as the Head of PNDPC and named Chief Mike Loyibo as the Coordinator/Convener of the group.

    The coalition comprises the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers; Niger Delta Joint Revolutionary Crusaders Council; Niger Delta Supreme Egbesu Fighters; Niger Delta Red Scorpion Fighters; Niger Delta Youth Mandate for Justice; Niger Delta People’s Liberation Force; Niger Delta Fighters for Resource Control; Niger Delta for Urhobo Resource Control; and Bakassi People’s Liberation Force.

    Loyibo, whom the coalition said was appointed following his track records of integrity and honesty, confirmed that the coalition mandated the PNPDC to announce the withdrawal of the quit notice.

    Loyibo said the youths were remorseful after he and members of the new group met with them and told them the implications of the quit notice to the peace and development of the region.

    He said: “People should disregard the quit notice from our youths. I have spoken to many of them and they mandated me to withdraw it on their behalf.

    “Those that issued the quit notice do not have called off the quit notice and discharged it. Everybody in the region in the west, east and north should go about their normal business. I can guarantee them of their safety.

    “The entire Niger Delta people are not in agreement with the quit notice issue. The boys that issued it are very remorseful. So, they have asked me, because they mandated me to speak for them and the region, to discharge the quit notice”.

    Loyibo lamented that such unpatriotic remarks like issuance of quit notices had their origin from the Cold War involving the country’s founding fathers during the precolonial era.

    “This quit notice and counter quit notice found their foundations from the precolonial days.  The three leaders that negotiated the independence of Nigeria did not love themselves.

    “It was the crisis that extended to our era where everybody begins to struggle for their own. I don’t believe in regional r tribal considerations. As Ijaw people, those that had been god to us did not come from our region”, he said.

    He said the youths were only suspicious that the Federal Government was trying to weaken them through promises that they might not fulfill at last.

    Loyibo said the leaders also told the youths to also hold their governors, appointees and regional interventionist agencies responsible for lack of leadership and  development.

    He further blamed the Arewa youths for causing tension in the polity and frowned on the way and manner the government treated them.

    He noted that nobody should be treated as a second class citizen adding that all must be held as equal stakeholders in the Nigerian project.

    The Ijaw leader, however, said the youths in the region still believed in the integrity of President Muhammadu Buhari and his Vice -President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, and their ability to fulfill promises they made to the region.

    He said: “We are peace-loving people. Our diversity is our strength. Mr. President has brought a lot of integrity to governance and he came in with massive goodwill. So, I believe that this is the time he should be addressing the issue.

    “Late President Yar’Adua took the bull by the horn and declared amnesty and today amnesty is working. The place is being transformed in human capacity building. The people are impatient. They are waiting for the promises because they believe that whatever is the strategic plan is a ploy to weaken them.

    “The other day, we were in a critical stakeholders meeting with the amnesty boss. I had another meeting with NNPC again. They deliberately told us what, when and how these plans would be implemented.

    “From their explanations and from the man, the President, I know to be passionate about the issues of the Niger Delta with the Vice-President, I believe that we as Niger Deltans should be patient and support the government at the centre.

    “This is not the time for us to bring violence. When the militants and the agitators and the people of the Niger Delta named us to represent the Niger Delta as the new face, it did not come to us as a surprise because some of of us have long history of integrity and openness.

    “We believe that Nigeria will continue to remain as one under a peaceful situation. So, I hereby, use this medium to formally discharge that quit notice. It is of no effects and there is no element of seriousness and the people that did it are very remorseful after we met with them and scolded them”.

     

     

  • Northern Threat: Return our oil Blocs, N’Delta militants tell FG

    Northern Threat: Return our oil Blocs, N’Delta militants tell FG

    …Threaten to declare independence on October 1

     

    The coalition of Niger Delta militants on Friday called on the Federal Government to return all oil blocs being controlled by northerners to the people of the region.

    The agitators explained that their action was based on the ultimatum given by some northern youth groups to the Igbo to vacate the North within three months.

    Leaders of the eight militants groups said in a statement that the Niger Delta region shall declare its independence on October 1, 2017 and free itself from enslavement by the North.

    The coalition comprises Niger Delta Watchdogs, Niger Delta Volunteers, Niger Delta Peoples Fighters, Niger Delta Warriors, Bakassi Freedom Fighters, Niger Delta Movement for Justice, Niger Delta Fighters Network and Niger Delta Freedom Mandate.

    The militant leaders are General John Duku (Niger Delta Watchdogs and Convener: Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators), General Ekpo Ekpo (Niger Delta Volunteers) General Osarolor Nedam (Niger Delta Warriors) and Major-Gen. Henry Okon Etete (Niger Delta Peoples Fighters).

    Others are Major-Gen. Asukwo Henshaw (Bakassi Freedom Fighters), Major-Gen. Ibinabo Horsfall (Niger Delta Movement for Justice), Major-Gen. Duke Emmanson (Niger Delta Fighters Network), and Major-Gen. Inibeghe Adams (Niger Delta Freedom Mandate).

    In a statement, which was said to have been issued shortly after their meeting in Port Harcourt, the militant leaders warned all companies operating in such oil blocs to vacate within three months.

    The group said “A coalition of the Niger Delta militants met today in Port Harcourt to review the recent call by the Arewa Youths groups that the Ndigbo should vacate all the Northern states within three months.

    “We see the declaration by Arewa Youths as a well consultative declaration which the northern elders, leaders, political elite, security heads from the North and governors were fully aware.

    “We demand 100 percent control of our resources. We demand that the Federal Government should hand over all oil blocs owned by the northerners to Niger Delta indigenes. All the companies operating in such oil blocks/wells should vacate within three months.

    “The Federal Government should immediately relocate NNPC and all the offices that have to do with oil/gas sector back to Niger Delta states and an immediately replacement of the Group Managing Director with an indigene of Niger Delta.

    “All northern indigenes working in NNPC and any other Board that has anything to do with oil/gas should be sack with immediate effect.

    “We demand an independent and sovereign Republic of Niger Delta. We are tired of living with the North under Nigeria. We are tired of the President’s sentiments to the Niger Delta people.

    “The President can have time to receive the Chibok girls, but could not have time to meet with the Representatives of the Niger Delta agitators. Our money has been used to fund Boko Haram, a problem created by the Northerners in order to use it as conduit pipe to siphon the resources of Niger Delta.

    “On October 1, 2017 we shall declare our independence come rain, come shine. We shall take our destiny in our hands and free ourselves from the slavery of the North as they are tired of one Nigeria.”

    They maintained that all the companies and businesses owned by the northerners in Niger Delta should be vacated within three months, saying, “From 1st October 2017, we don’t want to see any northerner close to Niger Delta; any attempt to penetrate shall meet fierce resistance. This time, we are not going to play defence, but attack,” the statement by the coalition of Niger Delta agitators read.

    They also called on all agitating groups to resume attacks/bombings on all oil/gas pipelines, especially the exporting lines across the Niger Delta region with immediate effect, adding that the measure was aimed at ensuring zero oil/gas production before October 1, 2017.

    They said, “We also demand the Federal government should immediately replace the Inspector General of Police with an indigene of the South West, the Director General of DSS with an indigene of South East, and the National Security Adviser with an indigene of South- South.

    “The Speaker, House of Representatives should voluntarily resign and hand over to an indigene of the South-South.”

     

  • FG resumes payments to ex- Niger Delta militants

    The Federal Government has resumed payments of cash stipends to former Niger Delta agitators as agreed under a 2009 amnesty in the region, an official said on Thursday.

    “Two months of the ex-militants stipends were paid yesterday (Wednesday).The rest of their stipends will be paid later in batches by the Central Bank,” an officer in the Amnesty Office, Piriye Kiyaramo, told Reuters.

  • N’ Delta militants to Buhari: We are ready for dialogue

    Groups of Niger Delta agitators have stated their willingness to dialogue with the Federal Government in order for peace to return in the troubled oil rich region.

    This decision was reached after a meeting of over four militant groups under the aegis of Coalition of Niger Delta Militant Groups on Tuesday in Port Harcourt.

    In a statement issued at the end of the one day meeting and signed by General John Duku, leader of Niger Delta Watchdogs, General Ekpo Ekpo, leader of Niger Delta Volunteers, Commander Henry Okon Etete, leader of Niger Delta Peoples Fighters and Commander Asukwo Henshaw, spokesperson BFF, the groups said they are ready for peace.

    The militant commended President Muhammadu Buhari for calling for Niger Delta militants to dialogue with the Federal Government during a visit to the Christian Association of Nigeria on Christmas Day in Abuja.

    The statement reads: “We wish to assure Mr. President that the Niger Delta militants and the people are 100 per cent ready to dialogue with him. We have no personal grudges against him and his government and we promise to work together to make Nigeria better.”

    The militants also condemned the call for the resignation of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Dr. Babachir Lawal, by the Senate, noting that such is not in the interest of the nation.

     

  • Troops in massive manhunt for Niger Delta militants

    Troops in massive manhunt for Niger Delta militants

    • Rescue 3 hostages in sea pirates’ hideout

    Troops have been massively deployed in the creeks of the Niger Delta to hunt down militants disturbing the peace of the region and bombing oil installations despite ongoing dialogue.

    It was gathered that the deployment was by the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe (ODS), following concerns that militants were still attacking oil pipelines despite peace talks between stakeholders of the region and the federal government.

    The troops, it was learnt, were asked to identify and dismantle all the active militant camps used as operational bases by the hoodlums.

    They were also directed to patrol the creeks, monitor vessels on the waterways and conduct stop-and-search operations on suspicious speedboats.

    At one of the creeks identified as Sand-Sand Fishing Camp in Nembe, it was gathered that the troops came in contact with unrepentant members of a militant group making efforts to activate a dismantled militant camp.

    A source from the ODS, who spoke in confidence, said the militants were trying to reactivate the camp to use it as a satellite base to constantly attack oil facilities located at the Nembe-Brass waterways.

    He said the troops, after gathering enough intelligence, burst the camp and in the process confronted the militants in a gun battle.

    “It was not an easy operation because the militants were armed to the teeth.

    “But we overpowered them and killed one of their leaders, popularly known as Edoboy. We are still pursuing others who fled into the creeks,” the source stated.

    The source further added that most of the fleeing militants were fond of running into communities to make the operations of the troops difficult.

    “They run into the communities whenever they are being pursued and mix up making it difficult to identify them.

    “The communities are always afraid to identify them and most times, these hoodlums use them to make statements accusing JTF of violating their human rights.

    “We are very professional and will not engage in any action or conduct that will drag the name of the military in the mud,” the source explained.

    But indigenes of the Sand-Sand claimed the troops invaded their community under the guise of looking for militants.

    They accused the military of destroying scores of houses, churches and schools during the incident.

    One of the indigenes, Chief Dede Francis, claimed residents deserted the community, alleging that displaced persons were suffering in bushes and neighbouring communities.

    “We tried talking to them but it was futile. After hours of intimidation, they told us that some suspected members of the Niger Delta Avengers were chased into our community.

    “They claimed there were exchanges of gun fire with their personnel by the suspected Avengers from the community.

    “The invasion and search however left buildings, schools and churches destroyedý. Only a school building was left standing.

    “We are shocked. The so-called Avengers did not enter our community,” he said.

    But the Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre (JMCC) of the ODS, Lt. Col. Olaolu Dauda, faulted the claims of Francis describing it as a big lie.

    He said the true position of the operation at the Sand-Sand community had been widely reported by the media.

    He added militants and persons making bloody capitals from the activities of hoodlums were behind claims that troops invaded the community and destroyed houses and churches.

    A Nembe Chief, Wilfred Ogbotobo, asked the ODS to do everything professionally possible to flush out militants from the Niger Delta creeks.

    According to him criminals should not be pampered and any dialogue with militants amount to treating full-blown criminality with kid gloves.

    He said: “With the quantum of weighty challenges confronting the nation at the moment, the Buhari administration does not have the luxury of time and resources for hopeless, hypocritical frolics with every lunatic group that springs from the creeks and other parts of the Niger Delta.

    “Instead, the federal government should consolidate the successes so far recorded and expand the overall capacity of the Operation Crocodile Smile to restore law and order in the region for the government to fast track meaningful developmental measures immediately”.

    The troops also rescued travellers kept hostage by suspected sea pirates in the creeks of Southern Ijaw local government area.

    The troops, who have been combing creeks in the Niger Delta region, were said to have discovered the pirates’ hideout when they raided Kasabubou Forupa waterways of the council.

    The Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre (JMCC), Lt. Col. Olaolu Dauda, who confirmed the development, gave the names of the rescued hostages as Peter Atijera, Lukman Balogun and Pious John.

    He said the troops recovered two double-engine speedboats, two binoculars and a Motorola radio at the hideout.

    Dauda further said that three kidnapped employees of Lex Oil were found and released from a kidnappers’ den at Ikuru town of Andoni Local Government Area, Rivers State.

    He said the Air Component of ODS while conducting surveillance at Isaka town, Kidney Island, Alakiri and Bille in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State, discovered two incapacitated barges loaded with illegally-refined products.

    Dauda said the ongoing war against oil theft led troops of Sector 2 to arrest one Ebi Youbodha driving a Nissan Sunny car with registration number Rivers AJ 252 NCH around Imiringi, Ogbia, Bayelsa State.

    He said when the vehicle was searched, 33 jerry cans of substance suspected to be illegally-refined Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPR), were recovered from him.

    In Delta State, he said troops of Sector 1 foiled an armed robbery attempt and rescued six persons returning from market along Bomadi Agadama road by Ohoro Junction in Ughelli North Local Government Area.

    But he said that on sighting the troops, the suspects abandoned their illegal operation and fled into the bush.

    Dauda added: “Troops in conjunction with personnel of Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) conducted a raid on suspected criminal/illegal drug dealer’s hideout at Emu Obodeti Community in Ndokwa West Local Government Area, Delta State.

    “The operation led to the arrest of one Mr. Moses Eni and Mrs. Boyi Kamanda with 55 bags of substance suspected to be Indian hemp were recovered.  The items are in the custody of the NDLEA office in Kwale Delta State.”

  • $16bn EPZ: FG’s delay stalling 150,000 jobs in N’Delta – Ayiri

    The Federal Government has been advised to use the prevailing ceasefire with Niger Delta militants to restart the $16billion Gas Revolution Industrial Park and Escravos Environs Power Supply Project in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.

    Niger Delta activist and chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, Chief Ayirimi Emami, made the call in an open letter to President Muhammad Buhari, a copy of which was made available to The Nation.

    He said the move would go a long way to bringing permanent peace to the Niger Delta, stressing that delay in restarting the project is hampering 150,000 possible direct and indirect jobs in the region.

    He said, “I have never been an advocate of the use violence to attract Federal or state governments’ attention, but that does not mean that the Niger Delta Region has not been suffering neglect, despite the huge resources derived from the area.

    “But now that the so-called ceasefire has been declared by the militants and their sponsors, permit me to strongly appeal that your administration immediately initiate steps to commence work at the multibillion dollar,” he added.

    Chief Emami said the determination of the present administration to diversify our economy from over-dependence on crude oil and gas would be greatly enhanced by the projects, which he said could mop over 150,000 youths off the streets.

    “The ongoing strides being recorded by the military hierarchy (against terrorists and militants) will maximally achieve its set goals if construction work resumes at the Gas Revolution Industrial Park, GRIP, Ogidigben as well as Escravos Environs Power Supply Project.

    “All the Federal and Delta State governments need to do is to create the enabling environment, set the right policy direction as well as ensure adequate security and the project with a massive employment capacity from ready-foreign investors will take-off in earnest.

    “The over $16 billion GRIP Project billed to accommodate a major Industrial Gas Hub and Petrochemical, Methanol as well as Fertilizer Plant will create over 150,000 direct and indirect jobs at the construction stage and set the tone for the eagerly anticipated diversification of our economy.

    “No doubt, the Agricultural, Manufacturing and Solid Minerals sectors will be greatly boosted, Niger Delta militancy will be brought to non-existence and the ongoing effort to take our country out of recession will be realized,” Emami stated.

    In the same vein, the Warri chief appealed to the federal government to revisit the Escravos Environs Power Supply Project, stressing that “This mega project is a part of NGC ELPS System-A Network, which passes the host communities in the Escravos Shore, Warri South-West LGA.

    “It must be explicitly stated that 30 oil and gas host/ impacted communities will benefit in the project, which is outside the power supply and distribution network of the National Grid. This is not forgetting the communities’ huge agro-based potentials.”

    He lamented that the recent attack on oil facilities have plunged riverside communities in the region into perpetual darkness, noting that with the completion of the project, host communities would have more stake and need to protect gas facilities in their communities.

  • Troops kill seven in gun battle with Niger Delta militants

    • Destroy camps, recover weapons
    • Arrest two suspected vandals

    Troops of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe (ODS), yesterday, killed seven militants during a gun battle in the creeks of Cross River State.

    It was gathered that the ODS troops of Sector 4 encountered the militants, identified as members of the notorious Bakassi Strike Force (BSF), when they raided their hideouts at Ekpere Effiong creeks, in Akpabuyo area of the state.

    The militants, who were dressed in military camouflage with charms and amulets, reportedly engaged the troops in a gun battle that lasted for about two hours.

    On September 24, the militant group attacked a military location in Efut Isighi waterfront in Southern Cross River and reportedly killed two soldiers.

    Confirming the development, the Deputy Media Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre (JMCC), Lt. Col. Thomas Otuji, said troops deployed in Efut Isighi encountered the militants again on September 30.

    He said: “Troops of Sector 4 Operation DELTA SAFE deployed at Efut Isighi at about 1:00am on 30 September 2016 engaged the Bakassi Strike Force in gun battle that lasted for more than 2 hours.

    “The militants, who were in military camouflage uniforms and carrying charms and amulets, were spotted at Ekpere Effiong creek in Akpabuyo during a special operation by own troops.

    “The operation led to the killing of seven members of Bakassi Strike force militants and recovering of several arms and ammunition.

    “Items recovered include, Grenade Launcher, 7.62mm NATO belted GPMG ammunition and non disintegrating MG links.

    “It should be noted that this latest reprisal attack on own troop position was sequel to ongoing operations and destruction of several militant camps, vehicles, power bike and other household items”.

    Otuji, the operation that led to the killing of the militants was in line with the mandate of ODS to protect oil and gas infrastructure, prevent and deter militancy, sea robbery, crude oil theft and other forms of criminality within the Niger Delta region.

    In another development, he said the Sector 1 of ODS foiled an attempt by suspected vandals to breach  a pipeline belonging to the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC).

    He identified the oil installation as the OML 30, a 16-inch trans-Forcado pipeline running from Ughelli pumping station to Focados terminal at Agbowhiame, community, Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State.

    He said two suspected vandals, Thomas Okoro and Maselk Boyi, were arrested for further investigations.

    He said: “On interrogation, eight other suspects mentioned by the two arrested suspects are being trailed.

    “Several items including; gas cylinder tubes with accessories, hacksaw, pipe wrench and personal effects were recovered at the scene.

    “Operation Delta Safe wishes to assure the general public of its determination to degrade and flush out criminal elements in our communities.

    “Members of the public are therefore requested to provide timely information to Operation Delta Safe detachments and other security agencies in order to apprehend these criminals from the hideouts.”

  • Count us out of threats to attack CBN branches – Ex-militants

    Count us out of threats to attack CBN branches – Ex-militants

    Former Niger Delta militants, under the auspices of the Second Phase Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Saturday, distanced themselves from a report that they threatened to attack branches of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over unpaid stipends.

    The ex-militants, however, pleaded with the Federal Government to pay their three months arrears of outstanding stipends.

    The Chairman of the phase in Bayelsa State, Ebina Salvation, in a statement urged President Muhammadu Buhari to view the amnesty programme as a security programme.

    He said the amnesty programme brought the fragile peace in the region lamenting that the delay that the delay in the payment of stipends to ex-militants was heating up the region.

    The ex-militant leader pleaded with the government to release adequate funds to the Amnesty Office for effective implementation of the programme.

    Salvation also called on the Federal Government to go back to the blueprint of the amnesty programme and implement its content by interfacing with the Coordinator of the scheme, Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh (retd.) and the ex-agitators.

    He discountenanced his from a statement purportedly written by factional leader of the programme, Stephen Ebisintei, who allegedly threatened to shut down all CBN branches.

    Salvation maintained that the Amnesty Office under the leadership of Boroh was doing well and therefore should not be blamed for the delay in the payment of their stipends.

    He said: “We, therefore, describe the allegations of the faction as false, baseless, mischievous and wicked. The allegations lack substance and should be thrown to the dustbin of history by all right thinking persons.

    “We, therefore, urge members of the group to discountenance Stephen Ebisintei’s display of falsehood which is a figment of his imagination and that of his co-travellers.”

    Salvation added that the CBN is not Amnesty Phase 2 Office but a bank accountable and rendering services to all Nigerians, both nationally and internationally.

    He called on the security agents to be alert, urging them to find out from amnesty office the recognised leadership of the Phase to enable them stop people using the name to issue unnecessary threats and publications.

    “That is the only way to hold people responsible if anything happens. Our leadership is enlightened, reasonable, law abiding and has respect for elders and the government,” he stated.