Soldiers take over Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta •As ex-militants threaten to bomb oil facilities

Posted by admin Armed Forces, Bayelsa, Delta, Headlines, Niger Delta, Rivers Monday, November 21st, 2011

THERE was security alert in the Niger Delta, on Monday, following a threat by a group of ex-militants to bomb oil facilities in the region in response to the Federal Government’s alleged failure to address some issues that border on their welfare.

Heavily armed security agents posted to oil facilities were positioned to ward off any attack, especially in Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta states.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that the group, Operation Freedom in the Niger Delta, had concluded plans to bomb oil installations belonging to multinational companies in the region any moment from now, a development that leaked to security agents.

It was gathered that members of the group were agitating for inclusion in the amnesty programme, but because the Federal Government had refused to accommodate them, they resolved to bomb the oil facilities to press their case.

“We got a report that a group, Operation Freedom in the Niger Delta, had concluded plans to bomb oil facilities in the Niger Delta region. This necessitated deployment of more security agents to beef up security in and around oil facilities,” a security source said.

The group’s grouse, it was learnt, also included the refusal of the Federal Government to grant presidential pardon to former governor of Bayelsa State, D.S.P. Alamieyeseigha, and the withdrawal of criminal charges against Henry Okah.

Nigerian Tribune investigations revealed that security agents were on the trail of the leadership of the group to prevent its members from executing the threat, which might have adverse effect on the revenue of the country.

Heavily armed soldiers were seen at the offices of Chevron Nigeria Plc and Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in Warri when Nigerian Tribune visited, while security at offshore facilities were said to have been firmed up too.