Recalcitrant Niger Delta militant group, Niger Delta Avengers on Wednesday evening blew up Chevron Valve Platform located within Gbaramatu Kingdom in Delta State few days after its threatened to launch attack on oil installation in the backyard of ex-MEND warlord, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo) who they allegedly accused of interference.
The threat attacks by the militant group which culminated with the Wednesday attack on Chevron facility came barely few weeks after Tompolo had disassociated himself from the recalcitrant militant group, and blamed the activities of the group on some undisclosed contractors and multinationals operating in the region.
Although the militant group didn't specifically say it bombed the facility as a warning to Tompolo to steer clear of its affairs, Bigpenreports learnt that the militant group had in an earlier statement threatened to take their operations to backyard of Tompolo if he continue to counter their directives.
They alleged that Tompolo had given his nod to NNPC and contractors to commence repair works on the 48-inch pipeline at Forcados which its blew up sometime ago despite a stern warning that no one should go near the blast site until its demands are met.
In an earlier statement on the backdrop of the devastating incident which took place around 10:40pm on Wednesday evening, the militant group which stated that they are not part of the Presidential Amnesty programme said they had only decided to pick the struggle up from where the former Niger Delta agitators left off.
Addressing Tompolo, they said; "It is only the actors that are new. You are not one of us and you need not border yourself to try to convince anyone.
"As a result, if you can’t join us (Niger Delta Avenger) PLEASE take your hands off our activities because it’s a slap on our face for you to give a nod for repair works to continue on the 48-inch pipeline at Forcados despite a stern warning by us for no one to go near the blast site.
"We hereby give you (refering to Tompolo) a three days ultimatum to apologize to Niger Delta Avengers in the same national diailies as anything other than that will mean that, we shall bring the war to your doorstep by blowing up all oil installations within your backyard (Gbaramatu Kingdom). Since you have taken side with the Federal government to fight the Niger Delta people".
"We are however advising you to stir clear of our battle with the federal government; it is better you stay mute over our activities if you can’t support us Please take your eyes off our activities".
While claiming responsibility for the Wednesday attack, the militant group which had earlier claimed responsibility for destroying the Forcados 48-inch Export Pipeline, also threatened to attack oil facilities in Lagos and the nation’s capital Abuja.
“We want to pass this message to the all international oil companies operating in the Niger Delta that the Nigeria Military can’t protect their facilities. They should talk to the federal government to meet our demands else more mishaps will befall their installations.
“Until our demands are met, no repair works should be done at the blast site,” the group warned adding that its "Strike Team 6" carried out the attack on the facility, which they said is in line with their commitment to cripple the economy of the Nigerian government.
All efforts to reach Chevron Corporation’s Public Affairs Manager, Deji Haastrup for comment on the incident as the time of filling the report proved abortive but security sources who confirmed the incident stated that the facility was badly destroyed.
