Rivers Crisis: MEND Denounces Threats to Attack Oil Installations by Former Agitators

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara

According to PUNCH, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has condemned recent threats to assault oil infrastructure in the Niger Delta made by a group of former agitators over the continuing political unrest in Rivers State.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>

This coalition, known as the Niger Delta Development Force, had issued warnings, asserting that it would target oil facilities in response to an alleged attempt to seize local government financial allocations in Rivers State through judicial intervention.

MEND’s spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo, responded in an electronic statement on Friday, affirming that the group would support security forces in protecting crude oil installations from any form of attack.

He emphasized that MEND does not condone the violence occurring in Rivers State, which has intensified amidst the ongoing dispute between the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, and his successor, Siminalayi Fubara.

The statement partly read, ”The threat to the economy of the country over a political dispute between two politicians who were allies is unfortunate; more so, both politicians are sons of the Niger Delta.

”We cannot in the present circumstance be tricked into carrying arms against the Nigerian state on behalf of any of them, not even for any price.

”As an Ijaw son, I know the gains of having an Ijaw man as governor in Rivers, an achievement which would not have been possible but for the collaboration of other ethnic groups.

This healthy collaboration from the various ethnic groups which produced an Ijaw son as governor was spearheaded by the FCT Minister.”

The statement from MEND stated that the group not only supports the Federal Government in securing oil facilities but is also committed to identifying and prosecuting those who have threatened the oil infrastructure.

Gbomo assured that MEND would work closely with security forces to ensure that any individual or group posing a risk to oil exploration would be held accountable.

In a cautionary message, Gbomo warned that pursuing vengeance often results in mutual harm, urging those contemplating violence to consider the potential consequences of their actions. He highlighted this wisdom as a warning to any individuals seeking retribution in the current conflict.

Furthermore, MEND called on elders and traditional leaders within the Niger Delta to step in and help resolve the escalating tensions between Governor Fubara and Minister Wike. Gbomo encouraged both parties to seek resolution through judicial processes if dialogue proves ineffective.

This development follows a Federal High Court ruling in Abuja on Wednesday that barred the Central Bank of Nigeria from continuing monthly allocations to the Rivers State Government, citing Governor Fubara’s alleged constitutional breach in presenting the 2024 budget to a diminished House of Assembly. The Rivers State Government quickly filed an appeal in response to the court’s decision.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>