Militants want Shell license withdrawn, vow to disrupt 2019 elections

With about two months to the 2019 general election, a new militant group has emerged in the Niger Delta with threats to cause violence during the elections except the government shows commitment to the development of the region

The emerging group known as War Against Niger Delta Exploitation (WANDE), on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State issued a communique through the spokesman, simply known as General Nomukeme, to express their grievances.

The group demanded that the production licences of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and other related multinational companies be withdrawn after expiration in 2019.

The militants also want people of the region to be compensated with rights to operate a minumun of 75 per cent of Oil Prospecting Licenses, OPL and Oil Mining Licenses, OML.

“That the 53 Oil Mining Licenses of Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, other multi nationals and individuals, which are non indigenes of the Niger Delta must not be renewed after their expiration in 2019, as we will no longer sit and watch our collective resources stolen by strangers under the watchful eyes of the Federal Government.

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“That the Niger Deltans must be adequately compensated with the right to also own and operate at least 75 per cent of Oil Prospecting Licenses, OPL and Oil Mining Licenses, OML.

“Our people must be given the first right of refusal as to whether they will like to own and operate the facilities or not.”

The new group warns of the implication of inability of the government to fulfil aforementioned conditions, saying the 2019 elections would not hold as planned.

“But failure to meet our demands simply translates to our commencement of hostilities. We will frustrate the conduct of the 2019 general election across the country, if the following demands are handled with kid gloves”.

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