Militants Announce Resumption of Hostility in N’Delta

Advise oil firms to vacate workers with immediate effect

Three militant groups operating in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States, the Niger Delta Volunteers (NDV), Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, Niger Delta Strike Force have announced resumption of attack on all the oil and gas installations in the two states.

Accordingly, they have advised international oil companies, subsidiaries and servicing firms to vacate Akwa Ibom Cross River territory with immediate effect for the safety of their staff members and expatriates.

To avert the strike tagged ‘Operation Zero Oil Flow’, the militant groups are demanding the return of oil blocks specifically in Akwa Ibom state but owned by Northerners and Yorubas to the indigenes of the state.

The leader of the groups, Commander Ekpo Ekpo stated the resolve of the militants in the two states to attack oil and gas installations in a statement made available to newsmen in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.

“We wish to officially announce our readiness to resume ‘Operation Zero Oil Flow’ in Akwa Ibom State. This time will be more deadly, zero tolerance for any obstacle that would stand in our way of success to liberate Akwa Ibom from the enslavement of the Nigerian government.

“We hereby give all the oil/gas companies operatingwithin Akwa Ibom State immediate ultimatum to withdraw their workers from all the oil installations, platforms, rigs within our territory both onshore and offshore.

“The operation zero oil flow’ will commence as soon as possible; and we shall destroy all the oil installations within our reach both onshore and offshore, we shall cripple oil/gas pipelines, flow lines and export lines. We have already carried out survey and map-out (sic) the strategy point in all the trunk-lines, flow stations, export lines”, he said.