Niger Delta: New militant group blows up major pipeline, says more attacks coming

The attack comes barely 24 hours after the new group introduced itself and threatened to commence destruction of oil installations.

New militant group, Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate (NDJM) has blown up  a major pipeline in Delta state, in fulfilment of its threats barely 24 hours ago.

According to Vanguard, the trunk line conveying crude from Isoko to the Eriemu manifold Urhobo nationality, which belongs to NPDC and Shoreline Resources, was bombed on Wednesday, August 10.

The group had in a statement last night, said the Central Operational Command of the group has approved the commencement of demolition and evacuation of uplands tagged ‘Operation Zero’ to correct the wrongs that have afflicted on the people of the region for many years.

In the statement signed by its spokesman, self-styled General Aldo Agbalaja, the group warned the Federal Government to stop negotiating with the  Ijaw ethnic nationality alone.

Announcing today's the attack on the oil facility, the group said: “As a mark of our seriousness and to prove we are people of our words, at about 02.00hours of today; Wednesday, August 10, 2016, operatives of the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate brought down a major trunk delivery line from Isoko to the Eriemu Manifold in Urhobo, belonging to the NPDC/Shoreline Resources.

“We would also want to use this medium to give a very strong warning to the operatives of the asset NPDC/Shorelines not to commence repairs pending when they get signals from us, otherwise the inevitable may occur to their personnel, as we have earlier warned them to begin evacuating the uplands.

“This is just a glimpse of what is to come, there are several assets already penned down for destruction. This line of action has been made inevitable by an unjust system, which only responds to the violent to the detriment of the peaceful and law abiding.”

Similarly, protesting villagers in Ugborodo community in the Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State today surrounded Chevron Nigeria Limited in the area, blocking the main entrance to the company.