New militant group in Niger Delta issues 7-day ultimatum to FG

The stage seems to have finally been set for a full return of militancy to the Niger Delta, as a new militant group, Red Egbesu Water Lions, has surfaced,

The emergence of the new group coincided with the blowing up of the Sagbama-Tuomo gas line, belonging to Nigerian Agip Oil Company, NAOC, at Egbembiri, Southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa State on Tuesday night by suspected militants.

The attack of the gas line was confirmed by a security source.

The source said: “Egbembiri is a border town between Bayelsa and Delta states. They destroyed the Ayama section of the Ogboinbiri-Tuomo gas pipeline with dynamites at about 9.00 pm on Tuesday. That line was earlier repaired, last week and again vandalized.

“We, however, suspect that dispute over the surveillance contract led to the attack. The Agip pipeline links major oil facilities in Delta and Bayelsa States,” he added.

The Red Egbesu Water Lions, in a statement by its Creek Network Coordinator, “General” Torunanawei Latei, said it was teaming up with the Niger Delta Avengers and Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.

The group also handed down a seven day ultimatum to the Federal Government to release the leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, former National Security Adviser, NSA, Sambo Dasuki and direct Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to defreeze the bank accounts of ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupol, alias Tompolo.

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The group threatened to shut down all oil exploration activities in the Niger Delta at the expiration of the ultimatum, while also demanding “unconditional immediate payment to victims of the Bonga Oil Spill and Chevron gas explosion in Koluama, Bayelsa state”.

The group added: “It is extremely important to note that the engine room of the national interest is the executive obedience to court orders, protection and preservation of citizens’ constitutional liberties. Justification of executive disobedience to court orders as a protection of national interest is abominable.

“This is a deliberate ploy to bend the law and suspend the 1999 Constitution. We ask, does President Muhammadu Buhari have any legal capacity to declare anyone as a criminal? Disobedience to court orders is an act of executive rascality in the country”, the group said.

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