Militants threaten to ‘cripple every federal infrastructure that yields revenue’ 

Militants group known as the Niger Delta Volunteers on Tuesday promised to cripple every infrastructure that yields revenue to the Nigerian government. The group in a statement signed by its spokesman, Commander Ekpo Ekpo in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital, also described the bombing of the Bonny crude oil export line as a child’s play, saying its scope of destruction would no longer be limited to oil facilities alone.

“We shall complement and supplement every move of the Niger Delta Avengers to ensure that our freedom from this zoo is realized. We shall not spare any infrastructure that adds value to the activities of the Buhari-led Federal Government.

“We in the Niger Delta Volunteers are not surprised at the current shenanigans of the Federal Government through the office of the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the Minister of Transport, Chibuike Amaechi. “It is now obvious that the Federal Government of Nigeria under President Muhammadu Buhari has converted the commitment to peace and dialogue by the Elders, Royal fathers and Chiefs under the auspices of Chief Edwin Clark, and King Alfred Diete Spiff the Amayanabo town Brass to a circus.

“In one breath, the Presidency is issuing a statement at a committee meeting under S.A. on Political Affairs in the Vice President’s office and in another, the Minister of Transport, Chibuike Amaechi, convening a meeting in Transcorp. Where does this circus place Ibe Kachikwu’s effort at bringing out notable elders to commit themselves.

“No wonder the spokesperson of our big brother, the Avengers, General Muduch Agbinibo refers it to, “a shameful scene in Nollywood acts,” the group said.

The group, however, warned all oil companies operating offshore and onshore to vacate, promising that its actions would likely create collateral damage to human life that may be in such facility.

The militants also insisted that restructuring must be on the front burner of any peace and dialogue between the Federal Government and the people of the South South region.

The statement reads: “This warning also goes to those in any infrastructure or facility outside oil that have economic value. To be forearmed is to be forewarned. President Buhari should strongly consider the withdrawal of Soldiers from the territory as their presence is a further escalation of stealing of crude oil.

“Finally, the only way forward to resolve the Niger Delta issue is to restructure the country and that is the only acceptable bases for cessation of hostilities. Restructuring must be on the front burner. The South South is a block of contiguous ethnic Nationalities and will move as a block in the expected restructured Nigeria with powers to abdicate on political and economic issues affecting the block.”