N-Delta boils as militants blow up another Agip oil facility

Tension looms in Niger Delta region as suspected new the militant group in Rivers State, Bayan-Men, exploded another facility of the Nigeria Agip Oil Company, NAOC, at Obosi area of Omoku, Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.

It was learnt that the militant group had earlier issued the company 24 hours ultimatum on Sunday.

A close source said another Agip facility in Onosi-Ogu Manifold has been blown up, noting that the heavy sound of the explosion caused panic in the area.

According to the source, Agip had not been able to put off the fire of last week’s attack, calling on Agip to engage the aggrieved youths.

The angry militant group in a statement by General Agaba, the leader of Bayan-Men stated on Wednesday that it will continue more attack, except the injustice against Omoku people is timely addressed.

The miliants leader added: “The action we carried out is as a result of Agip’s failure to comply with the 24 hours ultimatum we handed to them to engage our people on how to commence dealing directly with individual communities order than through individuals.

“We are not criminals, we are intellectuals. The fact is that when a man is pushed to the wall, he bounces back with double force.

“We are giving Agip another seven days to open windows of negotiation with the 27 communities of Omoku clan.

“This meeting will involve the chiefs of these communities, the CDC (Community Development Committee) chairmen of the Communities and the Youths Presidents of the 27 communities. That is how we want it.

“We don’t want it in anybody’s parlour, we want it at the Civic Centre where everybody will come.

“The reason we want to soft pedal now is because the appeals from different quarters and our Nchaka festival that is coming up in Sunday.

“We don’t want anything to affect our festival.

“We are surprised at the level of interference by the military and DSS who are in charge of the federal government facility.

“They are supposed to maintain law and order.

“The federal government had advised them (Agip) to deal with the different communities independently. Why are the security men taking side with the company?

“They come, take money and subvert justice. What we want is justice. You can’t come to my community and take the land and leave me hungry.

“We have heard that Agip has sent military to put out the fire, but they have not been able to do that. It is now or never.”