Tribune / Nigeria: A group of militants in the Niger Delta have declared that there will be more attacks and killings at major oil stations to cripple the economy until the Federal Government addresses some issues affecting the country.
This was as the group described governors in the region, particularly those in the South-East, as cowards for their seeming silence in the face of repeated attacks by Fulani herdsmen.
The militants, under the aegis of Concerned Militant Leaders (CMLs), made this known in a statement issued in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Saturday, and made available to Sunday Tribune.
Members of the group further said they were in support of the militants who bombed the Chevron platform in Abiteye, Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State, during the week.
They also threatened to bomb more oil flow stations in the region, just as they described the incessant attacks by the Fulani hersdmen on their host communities as an indirect war by the Federal Government.
Spokesperson of the group, simply known as General Ben, described the governors as cowards for not putting up any resistance in the face of the attacks.
He said, in the statement, that the group was more annoyed that the governors could not rise up for outright condemnation of the havoc Fulani herdsmen had wreaked in their respective states.
He said the group was also sadenned by the recent killings in Aba, Abia State, allegedly by soldiers, saying it was too challenging.
“The Fulani cattle rearers recently killed our people in Ukpabi Nimbo, in Uzo-uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State.
“Also, before then, they had killed our Igbo brethren in Irete, Imo State; they have also murdered our people in Delta State and many other places. Last Thursday, soldiers killed two innocent persons in Aba, Abia State.
“In all these unwarranted killings, the governors cannot come out and tell Federal Government that ‘enough is enough’. It is shameful that we do not have governors who are bold.
“They cannot even condemn the Grazing Bill. This is unacceptable. Grazing Bill should be for the North and not the Niger Delta region. This is another Boko Haram in disguise in the region. It cannot happen.
“We are telling them [Niger Delta governors] that we will give maximum support to any group that comes out to fight oppression in whatever disguise, against our people.
“It is an abomination for a stranger or visitor to kill the owner of the house. We cannot allow it to go freely,” the statement read.
The militants said they were not part of the amnesty programme of Federal Government and gave a two-week ultimatum to the Fulani herdsmen to vacate the Niger Delta region.
