Suspected militants kill three soldiers in Bayelsa

At least three members of the Joint Task Force (JTF) have been killed by suspected militants in Nembe area of Bayelsa state.
The soldiers, who were part of the Operation Delta Safe, were shot dead on Monday morning, August 8, by militants that disguised themselves as part of a group returning from burial ceremony.

After killing the JTF officers, the militants reportedly stole two gunboats belonging to the officers. But This Day reports that the militants also carted away several arms and ammunition belonging to the security outfit. Although the spokesman of the JTF in the region, Lt Col. Olaolu Daudu, is yet to make a statement on the matter, ThisDay quotes a resident in the area as saying that many people had started fleeing for fear that the military might return for a reprisal attack.

“The attack was deadly and well planned. Nobody had expected that such a thing would happen at such time when the jetties were busy with people preparing to go about their normal business activities. “I am sure even the soldiers did not expect such incident to happen at that time. Some persons who were already sailing out of Nembe said they saw the gunmen but dismissed them as mourners because they were dressed in white robes,” he said.

Source: Naij

Avengers blow up NNPC gas pipeline in A-Ibom

According to Vanguard News by
By Emma Amaize

Niger Delta Avengers on Sunday night allegedly blew up the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, gas pipeline at Nsite Ibom Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State.
The claim has not been independently confirmed, but spokesperson of the militant group, self-styled Brig Gen Mudoch Agbinibo, in a statement, challenged NNPC to “check their pipeline if it is ‘system anomaly.’ ”

The statement read: “At 11:30pm on Sunday, the NDA blow up Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), gas pipeline at Nsit-Ibom L.G.A, Akwa Ibom state. NNPC should check their pipeline if it's "system Anomaly".

Asking the NNPC to check if it was system anomaly is an allusion to the exchange between the militant group and Exxon Mobil, which initially denied an attack on its export line in Akwa-Ibom state, saying that it was a system anomaly, only to declare force majeure days later.

Militants blow up 2 more oil facilities in Delta

WARRI- SUSPECTED militants in a twin attack, Monday morning, bombed two oil installations belonging to an oil exploration company, near Batan community in Delta State.
Details of the incident were sketchy at the time of this report, but locals said the explosions occurred at about 12.05 am on Monday.
The double strike came as Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, debunked the claim by the Minister of Youths and Sports, Mr Solomon Dalung, that he met with the militant group at Oporoza, saying he was apparently defrauded by Niger Delta fraudsters.
Meanwhile, the Niger Delta Suicides, NDS, another militant group in the region, has warned that it would devastate the economy in different forms if government refused to create a genuine platform for talks with militants.

Chairman of Batan community, Dickson Ogugu, who confirmed the attack, said: “We heard a double explosion at about 12:05am between Camp 3 and Kokologbene communities.”
A security officer attached to 3 Battalion, Effurun, near Warri, who also spoke to Vanguard, said a team of military personnel has been drafted in company of a surveillance team to ascertain the extent of damage.
Dalung scammed
Spokesman of Avengers, self-styled Brig Gen Mudoch Agbinibo, while reacting to the alleged visit of Dalung to Oporoza, yesterday, said: "The Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, narrated how he mer some self-acclaimed Niger Delta Avengers in Oporoza, Gbaramatu kingdom. We are here to let the public know that Niger Delta fraudsters have defrauded the Minister."
"Niger Delta Avengers cannot stoop so low to send representatives to meet a common Minister of Youths that does not know his work.
"Solomon Dalung has been defrauded and played by Niger Delta fraudsters, he did not hold any meeting with us, Niger Delta Avengers.
"Let me make it clear that any meeting with the Avengers that the international community is not part of, we will not be part of such dialogue as well," Agbinibo added.
Trouble looms
NDS, in a statement by its spokesperson, Amakiri, asserted: We, the Niger Delta Suicides, NDS, wish to warn the present government and those clamoring to frustrate the efforts of Niger Delta Avengers to have a rethink and create a genuine platform for dialogue, otherwise, we will use our oil to survive and they will eat their yam."
"This fight is a fight by everyone, including children yet unborn. Thank God, we have successfully planted Adaka Borohs and Tompolos everywhere. So, we are waiting," he said.

Reference: Vanguard News

NIGER DELTA AVENGER HITS SOUTH-WEST

Niger Delta militants hit south-west Jasmine Buari 3 hours ago 87784 – The gas facility has exploded in the south-west Ogun state, the first attack in the region under the incumbent administration – The local police command will investigate the incident, however, some people blame Niger Delta Avengers for the attack Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Whatsapp Suspected Niger Delta militants have extended the territory of their attacks and blown up a gas facility in PZ Estate in the Ogijo area of the Ogun state. The attack comes weeks after killing and maiming innocent residents while raiding communities in the state. Channels Television reports that locals described the incident as the first known attack on oil facility in the south-west under President Muhammadu Buhari. READ ALSO: Niger Delta militant group announces ceasefire The suspects in Ogun were said to have bombed the pipeline late on July 12, Tuesday while pretending to be officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on maintenance patrol. The affected facility is said to serve an 11.4 distribution line for some companies in Ikorodu, Lagos state. The site of the attack has been cordoned off by security officers. While officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) consider it is too early to identify those behind the attack, sabotage of such nature has been arranged by the creek manors. Mohammed Tijani, divisional policeman, has stated that investigations were ongoing. He said: “What we heard is that during the day, some people disguised as NNPC staff. They reportedly came with two Hilux vehicles and pretended as if they carried out some repairs.” “Later at night, the explosion occurred.” Away from the Imo state in the south-east, where a Shell pipeline was exploded last month, all other attacks in recent times have occurred in the south-south, mainly Delta state. The Niger Delta Avengers, the militant group that came to the spotlight in the beginning of the year, claimed responsibility for most of the attacks under the incumbent government. The group, which threatened to storm Lagos, said its aim is to cripple Nigeria’s economy. President Buhari after threatening to crackdown on the militants appealed to them to give peace talks a chance. Nigeria’s oil production size, which dashed to an all-time low as a result of the attacks, soared during a two-week ceasefire announced by the militants. Meanwhile, the group resumed hostilities some weeks back, blaming the government for insincerity.

NIGER DELTA MESSAGE TO GOVERNOR OKOWA

A mild drama played out on Wednesday, July 13, at a function in Delta state when some heavily armed militants, suspected to be members of Niger Delta Avengers, came face-to-face with some Nigerian military personnel. In the video below, the militants asked the security agents to pass over their request to the governor. Heavily armed militants, suspected to be members of Niger Delta Avengers, came face-to-face with some Nigerian military personnel “I want to hand over our request to our oga pata pata today. You’ll go and give to the governor ,” one of the militants said.

After his speech, there was wild jubilation and shouts of ‘shun sir’ from others.
Thereafter, the militants started shooting sporadically as they sang and danced to ‘fada fada’ by Phyno ft Olamide. Militants shoot sporadically in Delta state

Pipeline bombing: I’ve no axe to grind with Tompolo – Ayiri Emami

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By Emma Amaize

ITSEKIRI leader and chair, Itsekiri Regional Devlopment Council, IRDC, Warri, Delta State, Chief Ayiri Emami, has said that he had no personal score to settle with former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo.  Chief Emami, who spoke to Saturday Vanguard on phone, said, “I must also note that no amount of blackmail by pockets of sponsored persons from Gbaramatu or threat to my life will intimidate me.”

*Tompolo
The IRDC chair, who was reacting to the request by an Ijaw group to the Olu of Warri, HRM Ikenwoli I, to call him to order, asserted, “It amazes me how sometimes some group of persons make statements as if they have monopoly of violence, mistaking Nigeria to be a banana republic.” His words, “The President Muhammadu Buhari administration has shown the capacity to crush any form of insurrection, sabotage and lawlessness as experienced in the battle against Shii’tes , IPOB and Boko Haram. As what obtains anywhere in the world and even in Nigeria in the case of local vigilantes assisting the military with intelligence, I have every right to offer intelligence to the military whenever called upon.”

“Maybe those,  who criticized my noble assistance to the military when the massive economic sabotage was carried out for three days through the bombing of vital crude and gas pipelines located in Itsekiri host communities, Warri South West Local Government Area, which led to the loss of 600 megawatts of electricity. “Shutting down of Kaduna as well as Port-Harcourt Refineries and the loss of billions of naira to our economy have forgotten that I was once the chairman of Delta Waterways Security Committee and current chairman of Chevron established Itsekiri Regional Development Committee, IRDC,” he said.

Emami stated, “Criminality has nothing to do with ethnic or personal interest and I do not need to be an appointee of the Federal or Delta State Government to contribute my quota to the fight against economic sabotage.” “I must stress that my position against bombing of pipelines will not cause any crisis between Ijaw and Itsekiri, so nobody should hide criminality under the guise of blackmailing Chief Ayirimi Emami.

“If persons perceived to be loyal to me were responsible for the recent bombing of pipelines, I am sure by now, it would have been exposed,” he added.  The Itsekiri leader asserted: “Nigerians are now too wise to be deceived and I will not be deterred in my responsibility towards this great nation by contributing my quota towards protecting our national assets no matter the odds.”

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Tompolo must face the law, Presidency tells Clark, Ijaw youths

The Presidency yesterday assured the Ijaw that it has nothing against them and therefore has no intention whatsoever harass or persecute them. But it warned that whoever violates the law should be ready to face the consequences. The Presidency was responding to suggestion by Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, that the Buhari administration is harassing his people. He cited the trial of ex-militant leader Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo for theft and money laundering and the cancellation of the proposed Maritime University in Delta State. The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) expressed similar sentiments yesterday. Speaking to The Nation on the phone last night, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said it was untrue to say the administration is out to punish any ethnic group in the country. He said: “Anybody who is a follower of events in the country knows that this administration persecutes nobody. “The administration is just asking all Nigerians to do the right thing and anybody that goes contrary to the law will answer, irrespective of where the person comes from. “So if anybody says a particular group is being targeted for attack or assault or persecution, right thinking Nigerians know that that is not true.” Chief Clark in the open letter to Buhari described Tompolo as a gentleman who could not have been responsible for the recent pipeline attacks in Delta State.

He said: “In the course of my interactions with these militant leaders, I discovered that Tompolo is one of the most responsible and peace-loving militant leaders. This was also observed by the then President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and late President Umaru Musa Ya’Ardua. “That was also one of the reasons why during one of the discussions I had with the former President, Chief Obasanjo in February, 2007, he said to me that he learnt that Tompolo was not well educated, that he was wondering what appointment or position could be given to him to keep him engaged and to effect permanent peace in the area. “I suggested to him that because of his (Tompolo’s) dexterity, he should for a payment, be engaged to provide surveillance for the oil pipelines and supervise oil installations together with his colleagues in the various communities.”

He condemned the pipeline vandalization that trailed the arrest order issued against Tompolo last week by a Federal High Court in Lagos after the ex-militant failed to show up to answer charges for theft and money laundering. Clark said the perpetrators of the sabotage should “be fished out and punished for their actions.” He added: “On the other hand, however, whilst not making a case for Tompolo, I do not think that he will be part of such dastardly acts. “Mr. President should please take time and look at the indices of cases of pipeline vandalism between 2014 and today. “I will plead with Mr. President to investigate this matter and treat it strategically.” Clark faulted government’s decision to discontinue work on the Nigerian Maritime University. The take-off campus for the university, Mieka Dive Training Institute Limited/Gte, was sold to government for N13 billion

Clark said: “Tompolo is one of the owners of Mieka Dive Training Institute Limited/Gte. The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) entered into an agreement with the institute to purchase the institute covering an expanse of 6.597 hectares of well sand-filled land together with all the structures thereon, for the sum of N13,072,564,822.00 (thirteen billion, seventy two million, five hundred & sixty four thousand, eight hundred & twenty two naira only), as the take-off campus for the Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko.” He said: “This legitimate transaction was approved by the Federal Executive Council at its 34th Executive Council, EC; meeting presided over by the former President, His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.” Clark took exception to a statement by Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi who was quoted as saying: “who will attend the university (Maritime University)? How many parents will allow their children to go to such place where it proposed to site the university…” The Ijaw leader said: “If this statement is true, it is very insulting, callous and vindictive on the people by Mr. Rotimi Amaechi. It is all aimed at executing his plans of personal vendetta against the people of the Niger Delta.

“This is unacceptable to the people. I strongly advise him to retrace his steps and reconcile with the people. He is appointed as Minister to represent Rivers State (Niger Delta people), based on constitutional provision.” Apparently taking a cue from Chief Clark’s open letter the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) yesterday accused the Federal Government of singling out their ethnic group for persecution and asked President Muhammadu Buhari to arrest the situation. IYC spokesman, Eric Omare, told AFP: “Our position is that due process should be followed. We support an anti-corruption war that is done within the ambit of the law. “We seriously oppose selective prosecution and political victimization.”

The IYC condemned the pipeline vandalization but also claimed that the military had invaded several Ijaw communities in Delta State, destroying properties and causing injuries. “The Ijaw people are not at war with the federal government. We call on the military to exercise restraint in their actions. There is no basis to attack innocent villagers,” said Omare.