Militia Group, Niger Delta Avengers Blow Up Chevron Facility Week After Its Threatened To Take Attack To Tompolo's Backyard

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.

Pipeline Bombing: Ijaw Elders Call For FG Restraint, Warned Against Military Invasion Of Gbaramatu

Ijaw Council of Elders also known as Ijaw (Izon) Okosu-Otu in Delta State have called on the Federal Government to prevail on the military to sheathe their swords and accept a political solution to the ongoing Tompolo saga as it relates to the recent oil pipeline vandalisations and corruption allegations for which a warrant of arrest was reportedly issued by a Lagos High Court on the ex-militant warlord.

The open letter read in parts:

Dated 19 January, 2016

Your Excellency,
Mohammadu Buhari,
President, Federal Republic of Nigeria,
Aso Rock,
Abuja.

Your Excellency,

PIPELINE ATTACKS: IJAW ELDERS SAY NO TO ANOTHER MILITARY INVASION OF GBARAMATU KINGDOM

The recent vandalization of oil installations in the Gbaramatu Kingdom area of the Niger Delta has massed up military presence with mounting apprehension of military invasion as happened in 2009. Already, there is a mass exodus of people from the  communities creating huge refugee crisis in Warri and other communities. Again, at the centre is Government Ekpemupolo, aka Tompolo, projected as mastermind of the pipeline vandalisations.

As Elders, we condemn the recent oil pipeline vandalization but advise caution from a hasty conclusion on the mastermind for several reasons. We also feel a duty to caution other ethnic groups against actions that can ignite avoidable inter-ethnic uprising and suggest alternative way to the options available to the Federal Government for resolving the impasse.

A: WHY THE SEARCH FOR THE CULPRIT SHOULD NOT BE LIMITED TO TOMPOLO

1.While not holding brief for Tompolo, the ex-militant leader and contractor to the Federal Government had the backing of former President Goodluck Jonathan in policing the pipelines during which period he stepped on toes of many big time oil bunkerers across the nation. That way, oil production was raised to a record height. As one now in opposition party, could agents of the present ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) whose toes he stepped on, be fighting back with actions for smear campaign?

2.In what many believe to be an illegal move, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, reportedly froze the accounts of Tompolo and his companies. He had several youths in employment who are now jobless and frustrated. Could the frustrated youths, now free from Tompolo’s control, be venting their anger on Tompolo and the Federal Government?

3.Could those interested in Tompolo’s oil installations surveillance contract, have orchestrated this vandalism and blame it on Tompolo at this time of his travails with the EFCC? Tompolo himself cried out about this just before the pipeline vandalisations!

B: PROVOCATIVE INTERFERENCE OF PERSONALITIES OF NEIGHBOURING ETHNIC GROUPS UNFORTUNATE

It must be clearly noted that Tompolo had problem with a Federal Government agency and not with any ethnic group. We are therefore worried by the provocative interference of persons from neighbouring Itsekiri ethnic group who, having axe to grind with Tompolo over the years and KNOWN to be interested in his oil surveillance contract from time, is seen on front Page of Vanguard of Monday, January 18, 2016 with the military inspecting vandalized pipelines and granting interview on Channels TV on the issue. This interference from known rivals may ignite inter-ethnic crisis and should not be encouraged by security operatives interested in fostering inter-ethnic peace in the Warri area.

C: ARRESTING TOMPOLO NOW MAY BE COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE

Tompolo, having paid his dues in the struggle for emancipation of the Niger Delta, still enjoy mass followership who are sure to react to his avoidable humiliation, with dire consequences. This is not to say that Tompolo is above the law. We are afraid that events in the polity do not make attractive submission of self to arrests, which may have informed Tompolo’s decision to be at large. In 2009, when the conditions were ascertained right, Tompolo willingly gave himself up to accept the Federal Government amnesty deal. The manhunt for Tompolo, while it lasted in 2009, only left in its trail, burning of our communities, destruction of properties and raping of some women by soldiers of occupation and sundry vices. The supposed search for militants did not achieve any catch but plunder of innocent and defenseless people of Gbaramatu Kingdom and thousands of other Nigerians who lived therein. Let the Federal Government avoid a repeat.

D:THREAT TO ARREST IJAW ELDERS UNFORTUNATE

It is sad to note that Commanding Officers of the military in occupation threatened to arrest elders of the Ijaw communities where there was vandalization of oil installations. No such threat was issued to elders of communities in the North East where Boko Haram has held sway for years with sustained capacity for wrecking occasional and spectacular havocs on the populace till now. It should be noted that elders have words, not guns, to confront armed and angry youths and can only deploy words, to effect, only if the youths themselves believe the Federal Government would respect the words of the Ijaw elders. The seeming treatment that the Ijaw/Niger Delta is a conquered territory in the Nigerian nation is unfortunate and does not promote a sense  of belonging.

E: POLITICAL SOLUTION AS WAY FORWARD

We repeat that we, Ijaw (Izon) Okosu-Otu (Ijaw Council of Elders), Delta State, are not out here to hold brief for Tompolo. However, as elders, we have a role to play for peace. We appeal to the Federal Government to call on the military in occupation to sheathe their swords and accept a political solution to the ongoing Tompolo saga as it relates to the recent oil pipeline vandalisations and corruption allegations for which a warrant of arrest was reportedly issued by a Lagos High Court. Let there be reasonable time to work out the political solution. We cannot talk to our youths with guns on our heads.

We appeal to the Federal Government to work with the elders to achieve peace in the area.

May wisdom prevail!

Chief Bare Etolor
Chairman,
For and Behalf of Ijaw(Izon) Okosu-Otu
(Ijaw Council of Elders), Delta State.