By Austin Ogwuda
Militant group Reformed Niger Delta Avengers, RNDA under the leadership of Johnmark Ezonbi alias Obama has threatened to attack oil pipelines, accusing the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC Limited for awarding contract for the rehabilitation of the Escravos Terminal to Warri Refinery crude oil pipeline to a Northern company.
He described the action which sidelined contractors from the Niger Delta region as brazen act of nepotism.
In a strongly worded statement, he said, “We are deeply pained and have no other option than to resort to hostilities that Nigeria has never experienced in the creeks of the Niger Delta region should the NNPCL go ahead with the wicked plan of undermining and totally neglecting Niger Delta indigenous oil companies.
“We are going all out to stop the nepotic award of secret contracts on the Trans Escravos- Warri Refinery to Benin Depot Pipeline maintenance, and others by a cartel of northerners at the NNPCL towers.
“We will not allow the contracts by the cartel to see the light of the day. We have started mobilizing our forces to strike at strategic pipeline locations and pipelines in the creek.
“The RNDA also strongly warn NNPCL and the northern contractors not to take our long silence, and patience for granted. They should stay where they are , if not, they will regret going to the various sites of these project.
“We see it as an affront on the entire Niger Delta people and contractors, who are also in the oil and gas industry, and are more experienced with requisite expertise in marine and oil equipment in the downstream sector.
We will not sit and watch them have their way this time around on this pipeline contract”, the group warned.
