Militant group, Niger Delta Avengers, has issued a 2-week ultimatum to oil
companies operating in the Niger Delta region to shut operations and
evacuate staff promising a “bloody” confrontation should they fail to do so.
The group also listed owners of oil blocks 90 per cent of whom are from
northern Nigeria including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former
Defence Minister, Theophilus Danjuma and former OPEC Secretary-General,
Rilwanu Lukman.
The group also demanded a sovereign state of Niger Delta.
“If at the end of the ultimatum you are still operating, we will blow up
all the locations. It will be bloody. So, just shut down your operations
and leave”, the group threatened.
The oil blocs listed include:
“Apo Well awarded to Sapetro Oil. Apo field is capable of producing 300,000
barrels per day and crude reserve of 500 million barrels
*OML 110 Obe oil field owned by Alhaji Mai Daribe, Cavendish Petroleum,
with an estimated 500 million barrels of crude oil worth $50 billion after
tax.
*Akpo condensate field awarded to Sapetro Oil. This field is worth $100
billion. *OML 112 and OML 117 awarded to AMNI International Petroleum
Development Company. It is worth $150bn after tax.
*OML 115 also known as Oldwok field and Ebok field and both are worth $200
billion.
*OML 215 awarded to and operated by Nor East Petroleum Limited. The field
is worth $100 billion after tax.
*OML 108 awarded to Express Petroleum Company . This field is worth $128
billion.
* OML 113 is $150 billion.
* OML 112 and OML 117.
*OML 67 is worth $180 billion.
* OPL 245 was awarded to Malabu Oil and Gas. It is worth $50 billion.
*OPL 289 and OPL 233 were awarded to Cleanwater Consortium.
The two fields are worth $200 billion.
*OPL 288 was awarded to Focus Energy. The field is worth $70 billion.
* OPL 291 was awarded to Starcrest Energy Nigeria Limited. The field is
worth $100 billion.
“From our analysis above, 90 per cent of oil blocs are allocated to
individuals from Northern Nigeria and some confused elements from the
region are calling the Niger Delta Avengers names, some are calling us
criminals.”
“How will you feel if the oil allegedly found in the Noth-east is being
managed by Niger Deltans? We are very sure that Niger Deltans will not even
have two per cent oil bloc if oil is really found in the North-East. If you
do not shut down, we will shut your stations permanently for you,” the
group said.
The group said it would raise its national flag, currency, passport and
proclaim its territory and ruling council to the world by October.
“To the United Nations, we are not asking for much, but to free the people
of the Niger Delta from environmental pollution, slavery, and oppression.
We want a country that will turn the creeks of the Niger Delta to a tourism
haven, a country that will achieve its full potentials, a country that will
make health care system accessible by everyone.”
The group, in a statement by its spokesman, Mudoch Agbinibo, said the
struggle was not an ijaw affair but comprised members from Eastern Nigeria
and other parts of Niger Delta.
“The Commander of Strike Team 9 of the Niger Delta Avengers is from Eastern
Nigeria. So, nobody should limit this struggle to the Ijaws of the Niger
Delta. The leader of Strike Team 6 that blew up Chevron Valve Platform is
Itsekiri. The Commander of our elite Strike Team One is from Akwa Ibom,” it
said.