Militants from the Niger Delta region of the country, yesterday, picked holes in President Muhammadu Buhari’s New Year speech, saying he did not show sign of seriousness.
The agitators said Buhari’s speech on January 1 did not show that his government was not ready to implement the agreement reached with the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, and even the 25-point palliatives of the Federal Government.
Under the aegis of 21st Century Youth of Niger Delta, the agitators, in a statement by the spokesperson, W O I Izon Ebi said: “We want to warn that the days of rhetorics and empty promises are over in the Niger Delta because we are equally aware of the plan and reason behind the one billion dollars excess crude withdrawal. The 21st Century Youth of the Niger Delta and the amalgamation of agitators with conscience disagree with Mr. President’s New Year speech because there is no sincerity, action plan and commitment to truly implement the agreement reached with PANDEF and its own 25-point palliatives, rather than verbal commendation.
“The 21st Century Youth of the Niger Delta and the amalgamation of agitators with conscience reject President Buhari’s 2018 Greek gift of mockery and deceit to the people of the Niger Delta region. You cannot criminalise our bravest, the symbol of peace in the Niger Delta, intimidate and insult our distinguished elders with impunity and expect us to keep quiet, as if the Niger Delta has been conquered, thereby making us slaves and inferiors to the North.
“We reject it and demand the immediate withdrawal of all trumped up corruption charges against the voice of the voiceless, philanthropist, human rights activist, and the symbol of peace in the Niger Delta, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo.”
“We equally demand an unreserved apology to the leadership of PANDEF if President Buhari means well for the people of the Niger Delta and truly appreciates the efforts and sacrifices of our distinguished elders, political leaders and stakeholders, who put in all energy to sustain the prevailing peace that the government is currently enjoying. The peace it has used to exploit us the more without anything to show for in the Niger Delta region since the inception of this administration till date,” they said.
They cautioned: “Any planned attempt to invade any community in the Niger Delta in any guise or any planned assassination attempt against Tompolo will be resisted with devastating consequences for the brutality meted out on our distinguished father, Pa Ekpemupolo, which led to the amputation of his leg and his untimely death is still fresh in our minds.
“We, therefore, call on the International Community, United States, United Nations, Nigerian Senate, ex-Presidents of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, political, religious leaders and all stakeholders, to prevail on President Buhari to redirect all plans against Niger Deltans to the Fulani herdsmen that have become more deadly and sophisticated Boko Haram terrorists.”
“This is because our agitation in the Niger Delta is for equity and justice. We cannot be in the midst of plenty and be impoverished with devastation and pollution that has cut short the life expectancy of Niger Deltans and still be treated with verbal promises and rhetorics as if we have been conquered and made slaves in our land because of our God-given resources,” the activists said.
A Niger Delta group, Kombot-Egbema & Gbaramatu Graduates Association, has threatened to shutdown the operations of Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) over what it tagged as alleged use of cheap labour.
In a statement issued on Monday and signed by Yabrade Moses, its president, the group gave the company 48 hours to upgrade the status of its members from trainee to “permanent staff” or risk having its operations in the region shut down.
According to Moses, some of its members had been retained as trainees for four years, which it added was a plot by Chevron to continue using cheap labour.
“We undersigned for and on behalf of Kombot-Egbema & Gbaramatu Graduates Association wish to emphatically state that Chevron Nigeria Limited should within 48 hours confirm the VTP5/OTP2, VTP6 operator/maintenance trainees of Chevron Nigeria Limited as permanent staff or face a mass action that might cripple their operations in Egbema and Gbaramatu kingdom which are host to CNL.
The trainees are since overdue for conversion to permanent staff basis after 18 months, rather they are still being retained as trainees on the job as a means of cheap labour, for the past four years, which is totally unacceptable to us,” the statement read.
“The trainees should be regularized as soon as possible to avoid the inevitable danger awaiting Chevron Nigeria Limited due the company’s management nonchalant attitudes towards the reclassification of the trainees as staff, the non-intake of the 2014 awaiting batch and other crucial employment issues.
It is on record that series of letters have been written and meetings held with CNL, government representatives and security agents as regards the conversion of VTP5/OTP2 trainees and other employment issues but CNL kept mute and has instead converted those trainees termed “national” from Agbami field to permanent staff long ago leaving our indigenes on “community” angle as slave labourers.
“On this note, we are embarking on a mass action against CNL in solidarity with our brothers that are been used as cheap labour any moment from now. Except their conversion to permanent staff is confirmed and our employment deficiency addressed within 48 hours as to avert the impending action. The issue of contract extension should not be mentioned again, if CNL wants to maintain peace in their host communities of operation”, it added.
Arrest of Notorious Niger Delta Avenger Militant and Kidnapper Anthony Pepple AKA “Urban Gorrilla” and other members of his Kidnapping syndicate, known for targeting Medical Doctors and Pharmacists in Port-Harcourt by Nigerian Police.
After several reported cases of kidnapping in Port Harcourt, IGP Ibrahim K Idris Instructed to the Intelligence Response Team IRT to bring an end to the menace of this syndicate.
On 01/04/17 at about 1500hrs, after diligence and pains taking Intelligence gathering and analysis and Technical support from TIU, Operatives of IGP- Intelligence Response Team IRT deployed to Port-Harcourt arrested one Saheed Adekunle aka ‘Black Devil’ 27yrs ‘M’ of Ede south L.G.A of Osun State. Black Devil who resides in Port-Harcourt confessed to be introduced into Kidnapping by one Tony in 2016 and gave valuable information that led to the arrest of the Overall Gang leader Anthony Pepple aka ‘Urban Gorrilla’ 42yrs ‘M’ of Bonny LGA of Rivers state, a very educated former staff of SAIPEM a Multinational Oil Servicing Company,
He worked with the Company both in Nigeria and Abu-Dabi UAE. Upon his arrest, Anthony Pepple confessed to be a key member of the Niger Delta Avengers blowing pipelines, masterminded the cold blooded murder of one Soboma George a militant commander in 2009, and also confessed to being the Kingpin of a Kidnap Syndicate that was known for targeting Medical Doctors and Pharmacist amongst other unsuspecting innocent members of the public in Port-Harcourt since 2015 collecting his ransoms in tens of millions of Naira. Following his confession.
IGP-Intelligence Response Team IRT in a mop up operation that lasted about 72hours, seven (7) More members of the Notorious syndicate where arrested and they all confessed to be part of the kidnap syndicate and the roles they played.
Other Comfirmed members arrested include,
1) Hillary Wogu ‘m’ 41yrs of Etche L.G.A of Rivers State confessed to taking part in some of the operation.
2)Ogbungbada Chima ‘m’ 36yrs of Rumualogu village in Obio-Akpor L.G.A of Rivers State has maintained a steady communication with a member of the syndicate in Port-Harcourt maximum prison organising operation.
3) Chief Aghara Emmanuel Lobito ‘m’ 31yrs was Coronated in December 2014 by His Royal Highness Chukwuemeka Consider Nwafor of Awka Anambra State but resident in Woji Town Port-Harcourt as Chief Eze Lobito Emmanuel Aghara Alusi of Nwanne Di-Namba Port-Harcourt branch, the Chief provided the Nissan Pathfinder And the Nissan Xterra that was use for some of the syndicate operations.
4) Lucky Gospel Marako ‘m’ 36yrs of Tombia community Degema L.G.A of Rivers State confessed to have taken part in many of the syndicate’s operations.
5) Igbiki Sokari ‘m’ 38yrs of Tombia community Degema L.G.A of Rivers State confessed to have taken part in four Kidnappings,
6) Dokubo Victor Ipalibo ‘m’ 28yrs of Kula community in Akuku Toru L.G.A of Rivers State confessed that himself and Tony started the Kidnapping business and he introduced four members of the gang to the group but Resigned.
7) Okwudili Pascal ‘m’ 41yrs of Ezira in Orumba South LGA of Anambra State is a plumber with a shop along East-West road by Akpajo Port-Harcourt, his role is to bring information to Kidnappers on any of his client that he did a plumbing job for and feels that his client has money so that they will be Kidnap.
8) Candy Ndubisi Nwankwo ‘m’ 30yrs of Obokwe Community in Ngor Kpala LGA Imo state was the syndicate’s amourer, when he sense that his gang members are being picked by the IRT Operatives he ran to Ngor-Okpalla in Imo state where he was traced and on sighting operatives of the IRT, he opened fire thereafter Operatives Returned fire and fatally wounded the Kidnapper.
Some of the notorious syndicate’s antecedents include the Kidnapping of
Dr. Silas Nwachukwu a Surgeon and a Director of Capino Pharmacy at Rumuomasi Kidnap August 2015.
Pharmacist Mrs. Joy Enuvie Akpokobje ‘f’ 63yrs Director Tejod Pharmacy No.115 Uniport road Choba Kidnap on 8/11/2016 along NTA Uniport road.
Pharmacist Onomake Monday ‘m’ 52yrs Director of Larmack Pharmacy No.166 Uniport road Choba Kidnap on 23/2/2015 at his Pharmacy also along NTA Uniport road.
Dr. Patience Iduh ‘f’ 48yrs a Lab Scientist with N.N.P.C Port-Harcourt kidnapped on 13/1/2017 in Elelewon,
Professor Rosemund Dienye Green Osahogulu former Vice Chancellor of Ignatuis Ajuru University of Education Port-Harcourt Iwofe, She was Kidnapped while driving along Iwofe road on 18/6/2015 amongst other numerous kidnapping mention by the suspects.
Exhibits recovered from the syndicate are one AK47 rifle with bridge No. 4398 and three(3) vehicles; two(2) SUV’s and a volkswagen golf used for their kidnapping operations. Serious Effort is still ongoing to recover more arms and ammunition.
President Buhari has confirmed that his administration is currently engaging Niger Delta militants in talks. The president revealed on Thursday that the government is talking with the militants in order to end the spate of violence being experienced in the region.
He said the talks are being done through oil companies and law-enforcement agencies and are meant a to find a lasting solution to insecurity in the region.
According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President spoke while granting farewell audience to the outgoing Ambassador of Germany to Nigeria, Mr. Michael Zinner, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Buhari also told his guest that the Federal Government is studying the instruments of the Amnesty Programme inherited from the previous administration with a view to carrying out commitments made that were undelivered.
“We understand their feelings. We are studying the instruments. We have to secure the environment, otherwise investment will not come. We will do our best for the country,” the President was quoted as saying.
Buhari thanked the German government for its continuing support to Nigeria in the efforts to tackle insecurity and the ongoing rehabilitation and resettlement of displaced citizens in crisis areas in the North-Eastern parts of the country.
He also thanked Nigeria’s neighbours for their firm and unflinching support in the war against terror.
The outgoing German Ambassador noted that bilateral relations between Nigeria and Germany “had improved very much in the last 12 months of this administration.”
He expressed the readiness of Germany to assist Nigeria in the rehabilitation process in the North East to help displaced persons return to their villages. He also expressed the eagerness of German businesses to invest in the country, now that “conditions for investment have been put in place”.
The German Ambassador reiterated the standing invitation of Chancellor Angela Merkel to Buhari to visit Germany.
Unless President Muhammadu Buhari’s government rises to the occasion, a politically-motivated religious crisis is underway that may threaten Nigeria’s unity, credible sources within Nigeria’s intelligence community have said.
They identified the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, Kaduna, Kano, Nasarawa, Plateau and Benue States as being at high risk. The sources, who comprise top investigators and surveillance operatives, expressed concern over the lack of proactive action by the government to tame the danger, which is said to be at the instance of certain interests in Nigeria.
They also drew attention to the high rate of arms-proliferation in satellite areas of Abuja and the six States identified. They said certain elements that are indirect vendors of the vested interests are social media platforms as tools of incitement, and that this is already well-documented.
In addition, they said that there are local artists who are producing locally-made guns and other dangerous weapons.
“We are working among agencies and have been submitting prompt Situation Reports on Abuja and states concerned especially Kaduna, Kano, Niger, Nasarawa and Plateau as launch pad of those masterminding politically motivated religious crises,” one of the sources said, adding that they are covering all religious and political gatherings and reporting promptly.
“We are doing our best and submitting overwhelming evidence but the truth is, there is no sound coordination to execute SITREPs. The rate at which it is going is [scary], we are in danger if nothing is done to tame.”
The officer averred that all recent religious and ethnic killings have been tailored towards inciting crises.
He gave the examples of:
· The killing on May 29 in Niger State of a 24-year old man and three security personnel;
· The killing of a pastor’s wife in Kano on June 2;
· The June 9 attack of a man in Kaduna over eating during the fasting period; and
· The killing of a female preacher in Abuja on July 9.
“Add all these and the tension on religion and kidnappings, study reactions and see the politics in it, we are doing our best, as we speak yet there is no robust approach,” he said.
Source
Sahara Reporters
Speaking with journalists at his Abuja residence on Thursday, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Uguru, said the region is benefitting more from the President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government than any other past regime.
The minister drew his point home by saying while the previous administration of Goodluck Jonathan failed to act on the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) report, the Buhari-led government gave attention to it within its first year in office.
Usani who expressed regret that rather than support Buhari, some people in the region were busy compiling the woes of the Niger Delta, said the continued destruction of oil pipelines by militants was counterproductive and harmful to the environment.
“I can say that the Niger Delta region is benefiting more under the APC regime led by President Buhari than it benefited from any other regime.
“Rather than support President Muhammadu Buhari to do more, we are adding to the destruction of the environment, our ecosystem, fresh water and aquatic lives.
“I must say that the environment is ours and destroying it will not do us any good. Imagine the Ogoni reclamation is going to take 30 years, yet we have not learnt,” he said.
The minister said he preferred to work quietly and that the ministry had swung into action after the signing of the budget.
“I work for all Nigerians. So, honest and people with good intentions can be sure that my doors, both in the office and at home, are open to those with useful contributions to move the affairs of the Niger Delta forward.
“Well, I don’t work to be heard but to achieve results. Unfortunately, we assumed office to meet the budgeting process and the budget has just been passed, so you should expect more action now,” he said.
photo used as illustration
A new militant group, Asawana Deadly Force of Niger Delta, ASDFND, has emerged in the Niger Delta. The group boasts to be the most deadly militant group in the region and vowed to cripple the nation’s upstream oil sector unless President Muhammadu Buhari grants them the Niger Delta Republic in the next coming days.
“Except our demand for Niger Delta Republic is granted, without further notice to the Federal Government, we shall proceed to bomb Bonga field flow station, Asaba- Onistha Bridge, Third Mainland Bridge and other major bridges in the Southtern part of the country, just for a start,” a statement by its leader, Commander Olomubini Kakarakokoro, a.k.a No Mercy, said.
“The Federal Government should as a matter of urgency, withdraw all the military check points from the riverside areas of the Niger Delta, else we shall proceed to match against any baby military formation in the region without further notice.
“We are most dreaded, deadly and dangerous group in Niger Delta. Our team is comprised of specialists in different fields of war, and is poised to win the struggle for a Niger Delta State. Our struggle is not for monetary benefit or the so-called monthly N65,000 amnesty stipend. It is for the liberation and the development of the Niger Delta region.
“We therefore, warn every other group or persons as regards the fake dialogue process embarked upon by the Federal Government to know that they are not doing that for us. We are taking over from our brothers, the Niger Delta Avengers.
“As we speak all preparations and plans are on ground to strike and bring down the crude oil production to 0%, irrespective of the of the military presence in the region. The Federal Government will hear from us.”
The Federal Government of Nigeria has reached a term of agreement with militant groups in the Niger Delta, including the dreaded the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) that has been wrecking havoc in the Niger Delta with its series of attacks on oil and gas installations in recent months.
According to a report by our source, the Federal Government has reached a truce with the Niger Delta militants. The Niger Delta militants have agreed a 30-day ceasefire and bombing of oil installations. The truce was agreed upon to give President Muhammadu Buhari time to come up with a comprehensive plan for the oil-rich region.
The report further revealed that the“30 days of quiet” was said to have been agreed upon last week by a federal government team led by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, and representatives of the militant groups, community leaders and the state governments.
Kachikwu last week led a government delegation to different camps in Bayelsa and Delta States, including visiting the temporary site of the Maritime University at Okerenkoko, Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, in a bid to reach out to representatives of the militant groups to get them to stop its attacks on oil and gas facilities.
The activities of the militants has cut into half Nigeria’s oil production to some 1.4 million barrels per day, impacted negatively on power supply in the country and the country’s oil earnings.
According to a source who opened up on the 30-day period of truce, Kachikwu was said to have met with the militants through back channels and pleaded for some time for the Buhari administration to come up with a comprehensive Niger Delta plan that would address most of their demands.
The source added that the militant groups accepted Kachikwu’s plea, adding that since the agreement was reached there had been no attacks on oil and gas installations in the oil-rich region.
“You would have noticed that there have been no bombings of oil assets in recent days. This is the fall out of the 30 days of quiet reached with the minister and his team.
“This will give the president time to come up with a comprehensive plan for the Niger Delta,”.
He also revealed that some of the demands made by the militants were for greater control of the hydrocarbon resources in their communities, improved funding for the Amnesty Programme, clean-up of oil producing communities in the Niger Delta that had been devastated by oil exploration activities, and funding for the Maritime University, among others.
He added that the problem with respect to the Maritime University stemmed from the fact that Minister of Transportation, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, whose ministry superintends the university, did not provide for funding of the institution in the 2016 budget.
The absence of funding for the tertiary institution was compounded by Amaechi’s preference for funding the Maritime Academy of Nigeria in Oron, Akwa Ibom State, and his demand that a probe be carried out into why N13 billion was spent on acquiring the land alone for the university in Okerenkoko, which resulted in an open disagreement with Kachikwu on the issue.
The source said the N13 billion was allegedly paid to ex-Niger Delta militant and fugitive, Mr. Government Ekpemupolo, better known as Tompolo, and has formed part of the basis of his prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Prior to the agreement temporarily ending the attacks on oil facilities in the Niger Delta, the federal government had ordered the military to withdraw its troops, fighter jets and battleships that had been deployed in the region to flush out the militants.
Source
THISDAY
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