Militants give deadline on resumption of attacks in Niger Delta

A coalition of Niger Delta militants have threatened to resume hostilities including the destruction of oil infrastructure in the region, except the Federal government accedes to their demands of returning oil blocks to indigenous owners.

They include the Niger Delta Volunteers (NDV), Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Niger Delta Strike Force (NDSF), who declared their intention on the resumption of attacks on “all the oil and gas installations in Akwa Ibom and Cross River states”, at the weekend in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.

Like “operation crocodile smile” of the military, the upcoming attack is code-named “Operation zero oil flow”; demanding “the return of Akwa Ibom oil blocks to the indigenes of the state”.

The release signed by the   leader of the group, Commander Ekpo Ekpo and made available to  reporters reads  in part: “We  wish to officially announce our readiness and preparation to resume “Operation Zero Oil Flow” in Akwa Ibom State, this time will be more deadly, zero tolerance for any obstacle that would stand in our way of success to liberate Akwa Ibom from the enslavement of the Nigerian government. Today,  government of Nigeria and some selfish people in Niger Delta believe that Niger Delta exists only in Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo and others without Akwa Ibom State.

“We watch with dismay the inhuman treatment meted to Akwa Ibom State, the leading oil producing state in Nigeria by the Nigerian government; it is on record that Akwa Ibom produces the highest crude oil on daily basis, being the most peaceful state in Niger Delta and always cooperating with Federal Government.”

“The state has been turned to dump ground by the central government of Nigeria, the government has no concentration, no interest, no infrastructural development and being the most marginalised and neglected state in Niger Delta.”