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Militants Strike NNPC Pipeline In Rivers …Avengers Hit Chevron Manifolds In Delta
A group claiming to be Niger Delta Avengers, yesterday, bombed the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s pipeline pumping feedstock to the Nigeria Liquefied National Gas (NLNG) in Bonny, Rivers State.
The Tide gathered that the pipeline attack occurred at a location in Eleme, Eleme Local Government Area, which also harbours the Port Harcourt Refinery Complex, in the state.
The militants made this disclosure, in a release yesterday, on its phony Facebook page @NDAvengers, saying: “by 3.00 am, yesterday, Strike Team 2, carried out a major strike, bombing NNPC pipeline at Eleme leading to NLNG. You won’t stop us.”
Before the latest attack, the militant group had posted, at about 8.12 pm on its Facebook page: “Another major pipe about to go up in flames! Brass, LNG, Boom.”
The group further insisted that its mission was not to take lives.
“The only reason we don’t want to take life is simple; we dare the Nigerian Army. For every life you take, we take two.
“We have our reason, we play cool. We are ready. We must cripple the economy,” the group threatened.
But in a swift turn of events, the Niger Delta Avengers, yesterday, denied ever bombing any oil facility in Rivers State.
In a statement confirming its attacks on three Chevron Nigeria Limited’s manifolds in Digbolo, near Dibi in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State, the Avengers denied attack on the NNPC pipeline in Eleme, Rivers State, posted by on a Niger Delta Avengers Facebook account, describing it as ‘fake’.
The militants said that the incident occurred at about 11.00 pm on Wednesday.
Claiming responsibility for the attack, the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, said: “Between the hours of 10:50pm to 11:10 pm, our (Niger Delta Avengers) strike team blew up Chevron manifolds.”
The statement signed by its spokesperson, Brig. Gen Mudoch Agbinibo, and made available to The Tide via email, while wishing Muslims a happy Eid Mubarak celebration, said: “the manifolds are RMP 22, 23 and 24.”
Warning the public that it was shutting down all its social media accounts, the group said, “Niger Delta Avengers is not out to mislead the public, as a result, we are closing our entire social network accounts.
“This Facebook account/page is an impostor page that was opened by fraudsters to deceive the general public,” the statement emphasised.
Speaking further, it said, “we are warning any group that wants to do anything to go about their activities without tagging us (Niger Delta Avengers). Instead, do your activities and claim responsibility.
“Niger Delta Avengers is not out to mislead the public as a result we are closing all our social network accounts and will be using our websites to pass information to the general public,” it added.
Meanwhile, the General Overseer of Victory Assembly Ministry (VAM), Bishop Jonathan Eze has cautioned Niger Delta militants to stop blowing up oil pipelines or face the wrath of God.
Eze gave the warning in an interview with newsmen yesterday in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
The Bishop was reacting to the incessant attacks on oil pipelines by the new militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).
According to the General Overseer, who is also a UN Peace Ambassador, the avengers are incurring the wrath of God by their activities.
“The Avengers are not fighting a just cause because their activities are affecting and threatening the peace of the nation.
“Nigerian oil is a natural gift from God and nobody has the right to destroy it,’’ he said.
Eze added that if the Avengers were aggrieved over any issue, they should address it in a civil manner rather than threaten the country.
He said if the country must remain one, no group should threaten the peaceful existence of the nation in the name of militancy.
Eze also blamed Niger Delta leaders for allowing the situation to “get out of hand.
“The leaders in the Niger Delta region are to be blamed because they are the people that groomed the militants and they should call them to order.
“How can there be governors, senators, traditional rulers and other top government officials from the region; and yet they cannot caution their children from destroying government assets,’’ he said.
According to him, spiritual leaders will no longer sit back and watch militants destroy the country.
“If the militants do not stop this madness, we will fight them spiritually and subdue them,” he said.
The clergyman, however, encouraged the Federal Government to take a critical look into the issue and handle it with diplomacy.
Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that peace has prevailed because he draws strength from God to resist insults and tantrums thrown at him while frustrating attempts by some disgruntled persons who wanted to plunge the State into unending crisis.
The Governor also said that because he has anchored his Government on promoting peace, the enabling atmosphere has been provided for investments and sustainable development to flourish.
Governor Fubara made the assertion when he received a delegation of members of the Bishops and Gospel Ministers’ Association International Incorporated, Rivers State Chapter, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Represented by the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke, Governor Fubara said while most people took his meekness for weakness, his stance on peace has unarguably enhanced harmonious atmosphere of concord as residents sleep with their two eyes closed, and investors and shareholders are happy with the returns on investment.
He said, “Before, what they hear of Rivers State is that they are fighting, and some genuine investors will not come. Some people even ask you: How are you coping in Rivers State?
“But now”, he asserted: “The Governor has brought about a lot of changes in the State. One of the most important things is that he has changed the negative narrative. It is no longer Rivers of blood. It is now Rivers of peace.
“We are enjoying our lives here. Why? Because there is a change in the narrative. We have peace. The Governor is, as much as possible, absorbing any level of insult at him only for one purpose: that Rivers State may have peace; that we may grow; that this state will experience genuine development.”
Governor Fubara urged them, as members of the Christian family in the State, to continue to pray for the State and the Government so that the enemies of the State will be put to greater shame.
“This peace is what I want you to embrace. Go and continue to pray, because when the sower of the seed went and sowed, the enemy went in the night and sowed tares inside there. But the Governor is sowing peace.
“When I listened to the leader of the team, His Grace Eddy Ogbonda, he said you came all the way from Eleme Junction, and stopped at major junctions, and you uttered prayers for the peace of Rivers State.”
He also said: “I, hereby want to thank you for identifying with the Governor at a time like this. At a time when it looks as if someone wants the Governor’s peace posture misunderstood as weakness.
“When someone has the strength to fight back, but refuses to fight back. That is a bigger strength; that power of restrain does not just come, it can only come from God.
“You cannot give peace, if you do not have peace within you. The Governor is not interested in any form of trouble or violence. What he is interested in is known, and it is: let there be peace in Rivers State,” he said.
In his address, leader of the group, Archbishop Eddy Ogbonda, said they had observed a week-long intensive prayers that culminated into a peace rally, which brought them to Government House, and assured the Governor that God will continue to give him victory over his adversaries while preserving Rivers State.
“It is Rivers State Prophetic Prayer Convocation and Rally 2024 with the theme: ‘Peace be still’. Of a truth, everyone of us understands that we live in a time when we need peace much more than any other thing.
“Rivers State needs peace. Everyone as individuals need peace. The country needs peace, and the world at large needs peace. So, we are here to do a peace march. We pray that God will command His peace to reign in Rivers State,” he said.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has stated that hotels, schools, and other establishments that accept payments in dollars from their customers are at risk of facing arrest.
The Chairman of EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, said this in the agency’s publication called EFCC Alert on Monday, adding that action would be taken against individuals involved in the dollarisation of the economy.
According to him, the exception is if foreigners come in to transact business and the only means of transacting is their credit card and dollar but to charge local customers in dollars or other foreign currencies would no longer be allowed.
He said charging local activities and customers in dollars is against Nigeria’s constitution.
The EFCC chairman said, “Schools that charge Nigerians in dollar, supermarkets that trade in dollar, estate developers that sell their property in dollar, hotels that are invoicing in dollar, we are coming after you and we have made arrests in that area.
“Yes, if foreigners are coming in and the only means of transacting is their credit card, and dollar, why not? You will get that.
“But document it properly as against selling things within the system, local economy and you will be using dollar as the medium of exchange, it is illegal.
“Our law does not allow for that. And we have also affected some arrests.”
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has enjoined Muslim faithful to remain steadfast to the lessons learnt during the holy month of Ramadan.
Governor Fubara stated this in his message of felicitations to Muslims as they celebrate the 2024 Eid-el-Fitr Sallah, which marks the end of the one-month Ramadan fasting.
The Governor emphasised the importance for Muslims to also uphold the tenets of Islam by exhibiting the fear of God and showing piety in their daily work.
Governor Fubara said, “We must all continue in the good attributes imbibed during the holy month of Ramadan as directed by God through His Prophet, so as to ensure peace, unity and harmony in the society for a better future.”
While praying that the essence of the festival offers them happiness, peace and prosperity in all aspects of life, Governor Fubara said he recognises and appreciates the critical role that the Muslim community continues to play in the development of Rivers State, and indeed, Nigeria at large.
Governor Fubara charged them to remain unwavering and steadfast in their commitment and positive contributions to advance the development of the State and the country.
“I enjoin you all in the State to remain calm, be patient and continue to do what is right,” the Governor added.
He wished the Muslim faithful in the State and across the country a happy Eid-el-Fitr celebration.
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