Militants bomb NPDC oil facility in Delta on Sunday

The Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate has attacked another major crude oil delivery line belonging to the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company in Delta State.

The incident occurred on Sunday at about 11.30pm around Ekuigbo, Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state.

The spokesman for the militant group, Aldo Agbalaja, claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement issued on Monday.

It described as a waste of resources the use of military men to guard oil and gas facilities in the region, adding that such would never yield any positive result.

The statement read, “The Opudo Strike Force, at about 11:30pm on Sunday, September 18, 2016, struck the Afiesere-Ekiugbo delivery line in Ughelli, operated by NPDC/Shoreline. The Operation Crocodile Tears is not slowing down but determined to achieve target.”

While threatening further attacks, ‘Greenland Mandate’, as the militant group is fondly called, said not until the Federal Government takes proper steps to address the Niger Delta problems “this song will continue to play.”

It added, “This is to you, Gen. Buratai, let your crocodiles continue to smile. Your time of reckoning is at hand. Probably by the time the smiley crocodile finally sinks, you will see its tears and blood.

“Under your nose, the very task of guarding oil assets (which we consider a waste of time, resources and a failure of priorities) will fail because you are both insincere and incompetent. The Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate is just starting; you are yet to see what we are. By the time the alpha operations are initiated, you will need more than these fighter jets to keep your troops safe in any part of the Niger Delta.

“To the oil and gas companies:  we have observed that you have placed your trust in the guns and fighter jets of the Nigerian Armed Forces. Our words for you are few: keep at it and wait for your rewards, which have almost come upon you.

“It is a reflection of your minds towards our people; you obviously believe that the people of this part are undeserving of good lives. You hide behind the guns of the oppressors to pillage our lands and our people, leaving us despoiled and our lands raped. You do all manners of things you dare not imagine in other parts of the world where you operate.”