Bonny 48-inch Crude Oil Export Line In Rivers State Blown Up As Militants Declare End To Ceasefire

Yesterday, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) indicated that the ceasefire it unilaterally declared some weeks ago to enable government address pressing issues concerning the region had collapsed.

The militant group’s spokesperson claimed the Bonny 48-inch crude oil export line in Rivers State was blown up, saying it was a signal to President Muhammadu Buhari over his administration’s ambiguous attitude to the proposed Niger-Delta dialogue and negotiation with stakeholders.

Signalling renewed bombings in Niger-Delta, yesterday, NDA claimed to have blown up the Bonny 48-inch crude oil export line in Rivers State, saying it was a warning signal to Buhari and the Federal Government over their ambiguous attitude to the Niger Delta dialogue and negotiations with stakeholders.

Although the claim could not be independently confirmed, spokesperson for the group, self-styled Brigadier General Mudoch Agbinibo, in a statement, said: “On the 23rd of September! 2016, our strike team, at 20:40 hours, brought down oil production activities at the Bonny 48 inches crude oil Export Line.

“This action is a signature to the over dramatization of the so-called dialogue and negotiation process on the side of President Muhammadu Buhari and his government.

“Since the cessation of hostilities and the commitment of the Pan- Niger Delta Elders and stakeholders team, the Nigerian government and her agents have turned the expectations of the Niger Delta to shameful scenes obtainable in Nollywood acts and intimidation, blackmails and continuous profiling of Niger Delta sons and daughters. This is only a wake up call; we may not have other way to say it better.

“We are still in favour of dialogue and negotiations but we are warning against ‘the peace of our time’ ! We want the ‘ peace with honour’.

“We will resist all actions undermining the ceasefire from the side of government and its security agents/ agencies. The world is watching, time is running against the Nigerian state; while we were promised that the concerns of Niger Delta will be addressed once a truce is declared, the activities of government and her agents are not assuring enough.

“There has been no progress and no breakthrough. We cannot be continuously fooled. Government cannot justify the indiscriminate targeting of Niger Delta youths while glorifying victimization of law abiding citizens of the region.”