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A coalition of former militants in the Niger Delta has vowed to join hands with the Federal Government and security agencies to crush some self-acclaimed former militants and their sponsors who are part of pipeline vandalism syndicate that destroys Federal Government pipelines in the region.
The coalition, under the aegis of Anti-Pipeline Vandalism and Illegal Bunkering Volunteer Group, also condemned in strong terms the recent protest at Delta State Government House, Asaba, over pipeline surveillance jobs by the alleged vandalism syndicate.
The coalition, in a statement via electronic mail on Friday by its National President, ‘General’ E. Pathfinder, aka Osama, described the syndicate as misguided elements and enemies of the region.
Pathfinder urged them and their sponsors to hide their faces in shame for embarking on “a journey of no practical destination.”
He said that the coalition in concert with various agitating militant groups in the creeks noted that the alleged hijack of surveillance jobs handled by Ocean Marine Solutions Limited by the misguided elements was baseless, unfounded, condemnable and unthinkable.
Pathfinder said, “By this statement, we are advising the Delta State Government, the Federal Government, the joint task force, Operation Delta Safe, and other security agencies in the region to totally ignore the self-acclaimed ex-militant groups and their sponsors who are already known in their evil plot and blackmail.
“And let it be known that there was never a time the Federal Government entered into an agreement with any group (s)of militants in the Niger Delta to safeguard any NNPC pipelines in the creeks.
“To this extent, the coalition sternly warns these misguided elements who embarked on the senseless protest to retrace their steps or face the wrath of the group in the creeks or would be marked as those persons who are part of the pipeline vandalism syndicate that destroys Federal Government pipelines and engages in illegal bunkering activities in the creeks.”
Pathfinder noted that the ‘kangaroo’ protest was a systematic way of embarking on new method of pipeline vandalism in collaboration with their sponsors in the creeks.
He added that if any pipeline was destroyed in the creeks, those involved in the nefarious act would have themselves to blame.
He reiterated that his coalition would join hands with security agencies to fish them out including their sponsors who were behind the “senseless protest from their hiding places.”
The ex-militant leader maintained that the existing peace being enjoyed in the creeks must be sustained, lauding the Chairman/Managing Director of Ocean Marine Solution Limited, Hosea Okunbor, for working tirelessly to promote peace and development in the Niger Delta through massive employment and productive engagement of youths in the creeks over the years.
He stressed, “Okunbor has contributed a lot to the existing peace being enjoyed by the Federal Government today for the pivotal role he played so far in the days of Niger Delta Avengers in the creeks.
“Therefore, to this end, we have passed a vote of confidence on Okunbor based on his patriotic sterling leadership qualities he has exhibited so far which have remained untainted in terms of promoting grassroots based pipeline surveillance services in the creeks of Niger Delta. No doubt, through the surveillance contract, the firm has carried community leaders and youth groups along in the creeks which has led to sustained peace in the region.”
