File picture of militants (photo: Reuters)
A coalition of Niger Delta militants on Wednesday called on international oil companies, PENGASSAN, NUPENG and other individuals that have businesses with oil companies in the region to withdraw their members on or before the end of December 2018.
Famzn News understands that the militants made the call due to President Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal to sign the Petroleum Industry Goverce Bill into law.
The group in a jointly signed statement said it viewed the President’s refusal to sign as an attempt to forcibly control Niger Delta resources by proxy and thereby advised the President to have a rethink on this issue.
In the statement, the group condemned the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbaj over his comments on the restructuring of the country.
The statement read: “We also condemned the statements made by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, in respect of the restructuring of the country.
“After extensive deliberation on these issues, we hereby issue an ultimatum that any oil company that fails to relocate its headquarters to the Niger Delta between now and December 2018 should stop operation and vacate the Niger Delta or face the consequences.
“The refusal of the President to sign the Petroleum Industry Goverce Bill into law is viewed as an attempt to forcibly control Niger Delta resources by proxy. And we advise Mr. President to have a rethink on this issue.
“The coalition wishes to state here clearly that we had fulfilled our part by maintaining total peace and ceasefire in the Niger Delta since 2017 as advised by Niger Delta elders and leaders, the oil output during the period has increased tremendously.
“However, the federal government has been playing politics with the Niger Delta people. We, hereby, officially announce that our cease-fire ends today and we are returning to the creeks.
“We assure the Presidency that with just one month of our operation, the oil output will return to 200 barrels per day; we shall crush anything that crosses our line of operation. The actions and utterances of the Presidency have taken us by surprise, we cannot help but stand firm and fight with aggression for what rightly belongs to us.
“Finally, we, hereby, call on the International Oil Companies, PENGASSAN, NUPENG as well as other individuals that have businesses with oil companies in Niger Delta, especially in the platforms, rigs, pipelines and terminals, to withdraw their members on or before end of December 2018 as we cannot assure the safety of anyone anymore from now on
“We want to assure you that our operation shall be second to none and we shall ensure the total liberation of our land and people from the injustices and neo-colonialism of the Nigerian state”, it added.
Those who signed the statement include General John Duku for Niger Delta Watchdogs and convener, Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators; General Ekpo Ekpo for Niger Delta Volunteers; General Osarolor Nedam for Niger Delta Warriors; Major-Gen. Henry Okon Etete for Niger Delta Peoples Fighters; Major-Gen. Asukwo Henshaw for Bakassi Freedom Fighters; Major-Gen. Ibinabo Horsfall for Niger Delta Movement for Justice and Major-Gen. Duke Emmanson for Niger Delta Fighters Network.
Others are Major-Gen. Inibeghe Adams for Niger Delta Freedom Mandate; Major-Gen. Abiye Tariah for Niger Delta Development Network; Major-Gen. Joshua Ebere for Renewed Movement for Emancipation of the Niger Delta; Major-Gen. Jeremiah Anthony of Movement for Actualization of Niger Delta Republic; Major Francis Okoroafor Niger Delta Freedom Redemption Army and Colonel Nelson Okochi Walter for Niger Delta Liberty Organization.