A group of militants in the Niger Delta has threatened to attack oil pipelines in the region, following comments by the World Bank president that President Muhammadu Buhari requested it to concentrate development in northern Nigeria.
The militants, who call their groups the Niger Delta Revolutionary Crusaders, NDRC and the 21st Century Youths of Niger Delta, made this declaration via a statement by Izon Ebi on Friday. They also condemned the army’s Operation Crocodile Smile II.
Part of the statement read:
“The current revelation of the World Bank and the present NNPC scandal has given us no choice but to activate our digital strike team to swing into action to stop further exploration and exportation of oil from the Niger Delta.“For it is very obvious that this present administration is for the North only, without putting into cognizance that 90 per cent of the resources that sustain this nation is from the Niger Delta.“We want to warn that this deliberate provocation and intimidation by the northern oppressors to provoke the Niger Delta people would be counterproductive because we are going to resist them with the last drop of our blood and a devastating response.”“Our grievances and agitations are genuine and nobody can or would be able to intimidate us with whatever military operations because we already know their aims and objectives. We want to warn that we are closely watching their actions and inactions and would respond at the appropriate time as we still believe in the eminent members of the PANDEF that persuaded us to a ceasefire for sincere dialogue, for lasting peace for the rich, but impoverished people of the Niger Delta.”
Peace recently returned to the Niger Delta region after serial peace visits to the area by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo early 2017 to show the government’s commitment to meeting the demands of the people of the region. Before then, the oil-rich region, which is the mainstay of the economy had witnessed consistent attacks by militants on oil and gas infrastructure which led to a nosedive in the nation’s oil revenue.
The presidency, meanwhile, has said that the statement credited to Mr. Buhari was quoted out of context.
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