By
Emma Amaize, Regional Editor, South-South, Egufe Yafugborhi & Perez
Brisibe THERE was apprehension among riverine dwellers, yesterday, as
the Nigerian Navy and Army deployed fighter jets and gunboats to the
creeks and other strategic locations in Warri South-West Local
Government Area, Delta State, in response to last Friday’s threat by the
Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, to resume bombing of oil facilities.
Some
oil servicing company workers, who returned to Warri from Escravos, on
Monday night, told Vanguard that they sighted the massive build-up by
the armed forces on their way back from work. However, yesterday
afternoon, riverine dwellers, especially in Gbaramatu Kingdom, reported
that fighter jets and helicopters hovered around the communities,
causing some of them, mainly women and children, to run into hiding in
the forest.
It’s normal patrol —NNS
Commander Contacted,
the Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS, Delta, Warri Naval Base,
Commodore Ibrahim Dewu, said: “What they are speculating as military
deployment is routine patrol along Escravos and the Trans Forcados
Pipeline. Once we sense any security concern on that line, our men
usually move in to patrol the area. Nobody is deploying any gunboat or
jets to specific communities. It is a normal patrol.” Commander,
Operation Delta Safe, Col. Alhassan Grema, and Spokesperson, Joint Task
Force, Major Ibrahim Abdulahi, declined response when called on the
situation.
Tompolo fortifies security Meanwhile, ex-militant
leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, who declared, Monday, that
he had no plan to bomb pipelines contrary to the allegation levelled
against him by the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers, RNDA, is said to have
fortified his security. A source told one of our reporters: “We do not
want to leave anything to chance because some people desperately want to
drag Tompolo into the affair and are using even youths of the region.
You saw the statement by RNDA that they know Tompolo’s hideout and
volunteered to pilot soldiers to the place.
It is highly
annoying, but we have to do what we have to do for now.” Uduaghan calls
for engagement Former governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan,
told Vanguard: “I am appealing for caution in handling the renewed
threat by the Niger Delta Avengers. I am appealing to the Niger Delta
Avengers to drop the threat and the Federal Government to continue on
the path of engagement.
The issues raised from the various peace
movements by the Vice-President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, on behalf of the
Federal Government that brought some calm should be seriously addressed.
We must all support the Acting Governor, Mr. Kingsley Otuaro, who has
been managing the renewed threat.”
Fighter jet, helicopter sighted at 1.00pm –Gbenekama Ijaw leader and Ibibenimowe (Chief Mobilizer) of Gbaramatu Kingdom,
Chief
Godspower Gbenekama, who confirmed the “invasion,” asserted: “At about
1,00 pm, a military chopper, fighter jet and navy boats roamed the
length and breadth of Gbaramatu, while the chopper continued hovering
around the palace of the Pere (King) of Gbaramatu kingdom. “The jets
hovered over the place for some minutes before they left. Why this is
happening, we do not know. Gbaramatu is not at war with the Federal
Government.
The Niger Delta Avengers do not live in Gbaramatu
nor do they live in Gbaramatu palace and we do not know them. We do not
know what their plans are. The people are afraid. We don’t want what
happened to us in 2009 and 2015 to repeat itself in 2017. We have
struggled to maintain peace in Gbaramatu Kingdom. The traditional ruler
of Gbaramatu Kingdom has issued a statement calling for peace and
admonishing the Avengers not to embark on hostilities. The kingdom had
also issued a statement pleading with the Federal Government to look at
the problems agitating the minds of the people of the Niger Delta with a
view of solving them immediately.’’
Invading Gbaramatu not the solution —Annkio Briggs
Reacting,
Niger Delta campaigner, Ms Ann-Kio Briggs, said: “This is a very strong
threat in response to what the government also sees as a threat. Are
the people the government is looking for inside Gbaramatu? What is the
point of harassing the innocent citizens of Gbaramatu? As a non-violence
agitator, I am fed up with all these threats and counter- threats and
the fact that the Nigerian government is truly insincere and does not
want to solve the Niger Delta issues. I don’t know where this is taking
us and I don’t think this is the best thing for the government to do
because what the security agents will do is to beat up the people and
burn houses.’’
It’s a sad development – Uranta
Executive
Secretary, Nigerian National Summit Group, NNSG, Tony Uranta, asserted:
“Unfortunately, Nigeria wages war against the poor citizens of
Gbaramatu and other peace-loving people of Niger Delta.” We are very
worried that the federal government has allowed Nigeria to return to
this crossroad yet again.
Even after all the troubles PANDEF had
taken to win peace and stability back to the Niger Delta, since last
year, when the NDA unilaterally declared a ceasefire and authorised us
to interface with the FGN on their behalf. ‘’PANDEF has always advised
the Federal Government against its penchant for over-militarization of
the Niger Delta. Whatever actions by the youthful agitators in the
creeks have been certifiably reactions to what all Niger Deltans regard
as an insidious plot by some enemies of the region, who appear more
hell-bent on demonizing the people of the Niger Delta, whilst unwavering
in their resolve to suck all the resources dry, leaving the indigenes
impoverished and the environment despoiled. ‘’We have called on the
young men and women in the creeks to, please, not revert to the
threatened violence, whilst PANDEF gives the obviously not-blameless
federal government some time to embrace the window of opportunity to
fulfill the many promises it has made to the Niger Delta region’s people
in the last year.
Call military to order – IYC
The Eric
Omare-shepherded Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, in a statement, condemned the
development. It said: “The IYC has just been briefed about fighter jets
hovering around the Gbaramatu Guesthouse in Oporoza in Gbramatu
Kingdom, Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State and
thereby causing tension among inhabitants of Oporoza community. This is
unnecessary and condemnable. It would be recalled that this same
guesthouse was a subject of attack during the 2009 bombardment of
Gbaramatu Kingdom. The Nigerian military must not allow a repeat of the
2009 experience.
“We strongly feel that the situation on ground
does not warrant military jet fighters going to any community in
Gbaramatu or any community in the Niger Delta region. We call on the
military authorities to call their officers to order. The deployment of
military jets is causing unnecessary tension already in the riverine
communities of Delta State. Gbaramatu Kingdom and some other Ijaw
communities have suffered too much in the hands of overzealous military
officers. “While stakeholders are making efforts to prevail on militants
not to resume hostilities, we also call on the military not to do
things that would aggravate the already tense situation in the region.
President Buhari must call the military authorities to order to avoid
unnecessary crisis in the Niger Delta region.” IPDI condemns fresh
military siege President of Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative, IPDI,
Mr. Austin Ozobo, also condemned the deployment of troops to the area.
“We
condemn the deployment of troops to invade sleeping communities in
Gbaramatu kingdom. It is over a year since the government promised a
dialogue process to holistically address Niger Delta demands, yet
nothing has been done about it.” “Has the government ever blamed itself
for the delay of the dialogue process, failure to implement the
relocation of IOCs headquarters to Niger Delta region and should Niger
Delta be blamed for the renewed provocation? We wish to state clearly
that deployment of troops is not the solution to Niger Delta struggle.
You cannot continue to do the same thing repeatedly and expect different
response.’ Peace will elude Nigeria, except those who bear the golden
eggs are given a better place in Nigeria,” the activist said.
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