The dark days of militancy are gradually returning to the Niger Delta
region with the emergence of new groups, Red Egbesu
Water Lions and Isoko Liberation Movement.
The Isoko Liberation Movement has given its backing to the activities of
the Red Egbesu Water Lions and Niger Delta Avengers, who have been bombing
oil and gas facilities in
recent times.
Besides, the group charged the Indigenous People of Biafra not to relent
in their struggle for a separate homeland, maintaining that the Niger
Delta republic would be realized.
The coming of Red Egbesu Water Lions corresponded with the blowing up of
the Sagbama-Tuomo gas line, belonging to the
Italian oilgiants, Nigerian Agip Oil Company, NAOC, at Egbembiri, Southern
Ijaw and Brassin Brass Council Areas respectively.
The attacks on the Egbembiri pipeline have affected about 1000 barrels per
day, which has forced the oil firm to shut down operations in Bayelsa
State.
Egbembiri is a border town between Bayelsa and Delta states.
The new group, in a statement by its Creek Network Coordinator,
General Torunanawei Latei, said it was working in partnership with the
Niger Delta Avengers and Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.
It threatened the Federal Government with a 7-day ultimatum 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.
The group threatened to cripple the economy at the expiration of the
ultimatum, even as it also called for the unconditional and immediate
payment to victims of the Bonga Oil Spill and Chevron gas explosion in
Koluama, Bayelsa
state.
It 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 anyl egal
capacity to declare anyone as a criminal?
Disobedience to court orders isan act of executive rascality
in the country.