Niger Delta: Ex-Militants Warn Uduaghan, Threaten Attack On Oil Facilities

PHOTO: NIGER DELTA GUNMEN.

WARRI, DELTA March 29, (THEWILL) - The lingering tension in Delta State caused by the recent bomb blast seems to have taken another critical dimension as ex-militants of Urhobo extraction, under aegis of Niger Delta Freedom Fighters, have threatened to bomb Utorogu Gas Plant and other oil facilities in Delta Central over what they termed an outright marginalization of Urhobo ex-militants by Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduagahan, and his Deputy, Prof Amos Utuama.

Speaking at Ughelli on Monday, Commander John Ozikabu, General Wilson Gbaire, General Indiami Fineboy Okpolotor, and General Figbele Joseph said, the federal government recognized them as ex-militants yet, the state government led by Uduaghan refused to recognize them.

According to them, “Uduaghan recognizes Ijaw generals more than we (Urhobo generals); but we want to let him know that if he doesn’t attend to us within seven days from now, we will be left with no option than to return to our usual life of bombing oil facilities in Urhobo land.

"We will make sure that the eight local government areas in the central senatorial district of the state remain ungovernable until our requests are met.

Continuing they said, "Imagine a situation where the federal government gives us our entitlements but the state we come from fails to recognize us as ex-militants but rather favouring a popular Ijaw ex-militant and his cohorts with juicy state government contracts.

"Even the federal government gave an approval that we should be employed to guide oil facilities in our area but the reverse is still the case," they added.

They pointed out that the only way their proposed attack could be averted was for the government to call them for negotiations to enable them outline their demands.