New Militant Group Blows up Forcados Pipeline, Lists Demands
Nigeria’s major trunk line, the Forcados terminal crude
oil export pipeline, in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State,
has been blown up by new Niger Delta militants under the aegis of the
Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).
The group, in a statement on its website, claimed responsibility for the incident which occurred last Saturday night.
The attack on the terminal has led to an acute shortage of crude oil both for export and for local processing.
The Forcados terminal accounts for over 400,000 barrels of crude
oil exported daily and is ranked among the biggest terminals in the
country.
The attack came a few days after President Muhammadu Buhari issued
an order that more troops should be deployed to the Niger Delta region
to protect oil installations.
In the statement, NDA said it enjoys support from Northern, Western and Eastern parts of the country.
The group, in the statement titled: “Operation Red Economy,” said
its move was to protest the federal Government’s inability to tackle
critical national issues including the anti-corruption war.
An official of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC),
who spoke under the condition of anonymity, disclosed that a
high-powered delegation has been dispatched from Abuja to carry out an
on-the-spot assessment on the affected installations.
Lt. Col. Isa Ado, the spokesman of the Joint Task Force codenamed
Operation Pulo Shield, did not pick calls on his phone for confirmation
of the incident. A senior military officer however confirmed the attack.
The Media Relations Manager of Shell, Mr. Precious Okolobo, in an
email response to enquiries, said: “SPDC is investigating the source of a
crude oil spill which was observed on water around Forcados Terminal on
Sunday (February 14). This initial investigation will enable the
company to quickly determine what suitable response is further needed.”
Among its 11 demands for peace in the region, NDA demanded for the
immediate implementation of the report of the 2014 National Conference
organised by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The group also demanded the immediate release of the detained
leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, as
directed by the courts.
It said: “We are a group of young Niger Deltans who have support
from other parts of Nigeria, namely Northern, Western and Eastern parts.
“We have watched with keen interest, the way and manner in which
the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC government runs the affairs of
this country, and we are not pleased with the way things are going.
“For instance, the so-called anti-corruption fight is directed at
perceived enemies of the government, and those who are sympathetic to
former President Goodluck Jonathan. We wonder why these persecutions,
despite the peaceful manner Jonathan handed power over to the All
Progressives Congress.”
“So far, the only two governorship elections that were conducted
under this government were and still remain the most controversial
elections in the history of this nation,” it said.
The group further demanded that: “The ownership of oil blocks must
reflect 60 percent for the oil-producing people and 40% for the non-oil
producing people. The only Nigerian Maritime University sited in the
most appropriate and befitting place in Okerenkoko must start the
2015/2016 academic session, immediately.
“The Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, should
apologise to the Ijaws and the entire Niger
Delta people for his
careless and reckless statements about the siting of the University.
“The Ogoniland and indeed, all oil polluted lands in the Niger
Delta must be cleaned up and compensation be paid to all oil-producing
communities”.
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