Repaired Pipeline Blown up Again in Bayelsa as New Militant Group Seeks Release of Dasuki, Kanu

Repaired Pipeline Blown up Again in Bayelsa as New Militant Group Seeks Release of Dasuki, Kanu

A new militant group identifying itself as the “Red Egbesu Water Lions” has emerged in the oil-rich Niger-Delta region, a development that may cause more worry to the Nigerian government already lamenting production cuts and consequent fall in already declining oil revenue.

Vanguard reports that the Red Egbesu Water Lions announced its arrival on the scene just as security forces are investigating a fresh bomb attack on the Sagbama-Tuomo gas line, belonging to Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) at Egbembiri, Southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa state which occurred Tuesday night.

A security source, who confirmed the explosion, is quoted to have said: “Egbembiri is a border town between Bayelsa and Delta states. They destroyed the Ayama section of the Ogboinbiri-Tuomo gas pipeline with dynamites at about 9.00 pm on Tuesday. That line was earlier repaired, last week and again vandalized.”

“We, however, suspect that dispute over the surveillance contract led to the attack. The Agip pipeline links major oil facilities in Delta and Bayelsa States,” he added.

The Red Egbesu Water Lions in a statement by its ‘creek network coordinator’, “General” Torunanawei Latei, said it was teaming up with another militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers as well as secession campaigners, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The militants issued the federal government a 7-day ultimatum to release IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu and former national security adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd). It equally demanded that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) lift a freeze order placed on the bank accounts of ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo.

The group also demanded “unconditional immediate payment to victims of the Bonga oil spill and Chevron gas explosion in Koluama, Bayelsa state.”

It threatened to shut down all oil exploration activities in the Niger Delta if its demands remain unmet at the expiration of the ultimatum.

In its statement, the militant group asked what powers President Muhammadu Buhari had to declare anyone a criminal and described his purported refusal to obey court orders freeing Nnamdi Kanu and Sambo Dasuki, as “executive rascality.”