The militant group which has claimed responsibility for recent attacks on oil installations, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), yesterday, issued a two-week ultimatum to all oil companies operating in the Niger Delta to shut down operations.
The group, in a statement signed by its spokesman, Mudoch Agbinibo, and made available to The Tide, warned that failure to comply with the directive will be bloody, boasting that the military lacked the power to prevent it from striking.
According to the statement, “The Niger Delta Avengers is giving two week ultimatum to all oil companies in our region to shut down and evacuate their staff.
“If at the end of the ultimatum and you are still operating, we will blow up all the locations. It will be bloody. So, just shut down your operations and leave,” the group warned.
Meanwhile, the Niger Delta Avengers, has warned Chevron Plc not to carry out repair works at the valve platform that was blown up by the group last week, until its demands are met.
The militants threatened to attack the company’s workers and tank farms, including the one in Lekki, Lagos State.
In an online statement, yesterday, signed by its spokesman, Col. Mudoch Agbinigbo, Niger Delta Avengers said: “From our investigation, Chevron Plc is about to carry out repair works at the valve platform that was blown up by us (Niger Delta Avengers). We made it clear that no repair works should be done until our demands are fully met.”
According to the group, “Chevron has been operating in the Niger Delta region for over 40 years and no day passes without their terminals having electricity.
“The host communities and villages around the terminals lack basic amenities like portable water, schools, hospitals, roads and electricity.
“They have a pact with the federal government to undermine the people of the region.
“When we blew up the Chevron Valve Platform it resulted in total blackout in the Escravos Tank farm for more than three hours. If we can do it just know that we are capable of bringing down your tank farms if you continue with repair works on the blown valve platform.
The group continued: “Chevron and the Nigerian Government are pushing us to do that which is against our wish. Despite making it clear that we are not after innocent human lives but the way they are going, we will not rule out human casualties.
“Be informed that if we decided to strike, it is going to be bloody. And to the contracting firm going to do the repair works, we want you to know that your facilities and staff will be our first casualties.
“We want to warn Chevron that the heavy presence of military in the creeks will not stop us from carrying out our operations. We are ready to destroy more pipelines. We will not only destroy pipelines, but will bring the fight to your tank farm and headquarters in Lekki, Lagos,” the group boasted.

Susan Serekara-Nwikhana