A militia group based in Delta state with the codename Delta Strike Force has threatened to blow off Otorogu gas plant and Warri refinery if the federal government fails within days to reverse the pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Senator Ovie Omo-Agege back to them.
In an online message posted to Emerald News in the wheel hours of Monday, the group said its infantry brigade would achieve the feat in a matter of days. The message signed by one General Mass Killer said the action would only be halted if the Nigerian government responds to their agitations. The agitation is the reversal of the pipeline security contract said to have been awarded to Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.
The militia group which said it has wreaked havoc on the trunkline between Agbarha, Iyede and Eriemu pipelines close to Army barack in Agbara Otor, said the campaign is to expose the inefficiency of Zane Energy that NPDC and NNPCL that awarded pipeline surveillance contract of OML 30 and 34.
Just last week, the group also said it blew off the flow station between Kokori and Erhaike in Ethiope east local government area of the state. It gave reasons for its action as the award of the pipeline surveillance contract to Omo-Agege for the destruction.
Reacting to the action and threat of the militia group, the Mayor of Urhoboland, Israel Eshanekpe also known as Akpodoro, who is an advocate for non-violence, condemned the reported threat to further damages in the Isoko and Urhobo axis. He said that action would amount to destruction of national assets which would not aurgur well for the Niger Delta region.
Akpodoro argued that in as much as the group has a good case, violence is not a solution but peaceful approach in a healthy engagement with the authority.
However, Akpodoro blamed the federal government for what he described as its poor reward system and lackadaisical approach to resolution of grievances by the citizens.
He noted with consternation why the government ignored several calls from notable quarters to patronise those who stuck out their necks to fight the Niger Delta Avengers adding that, during the armed conflict in 2016 led by the Avengers he was promised by the government through security chiefs that his boys would be settled after their success in the creeks against the Avengers.
He stressed further that after the Avengers were defeated, efforts to cause the federal government to fulfill its promises failed saying he saw the current strife coming and he raised concerns by calling on the government to do the needful but regretted that his calls fell on deaf ears.
Additionally, he maintained that the contract awarded ordinarily should have been given to the ex-militants noting that the former warlords in the troubled areas should have been given “the right of first refusal” rather than awarding it to politically exposed persons.
As a noble personality and peace builder in the region, Akpodoro noted that he had called on authorities as soon as the contract was awarded to a politician intimating them of possible reactions as a result of the pipeline contract awarded to the Senator.
He said persons in government rebuffed his calls, a development he said is the tradition of the officials of President Buhari’s administration.
The militia group was alleged to have given the federal government conditions for the resolution of the violence attacks to include that the contract be withdrawn from the contractor handling the surveillance and awarded to their leaders; that the East-West Road should be fixed for the regional commuters and that gas flaring in the state be stopped immediately.
Other conditions for peace, according to the group, include the re-activation of the Delta Steel Company, DSC and same be brought into the mainstream production sector of the Nigeria economy and the immediate engagement of all youths who were involved in the war against the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA.
