Release Kanu, Dasuki or we'll shut down oil exploration activities- MILITANT

A new militant group, Red Egbesu Water Lions, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government for release of Nnamdi Kanu, former National Security Adviser, NSA, Sambo Dasuki and EFCC to defreeze the bank accounts of ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupol, alias Tompolo, threatening to shut down all oil exploration activities in the Niger Delta. 

Red Egbesu Water Lions also demanded unconditional immediate payment to victims of the Bonga Oil Spill and Chevron gas explosion in Koluama, Bayelsa state.

The group surfaced in the Niger Delta region, just as suspected militants on Tuesday night blew up the Sagbama-Tuomo gas line, belonging to Nigerian Agip Oil Company, NAOC, at Egbembiri, Bayelsa State. 

A security source, who confirmed the explosion, said: “Egbembiri is a border town between Bayelsa and Delta states. They destroyed the Ayama section of the Ogboinbiri-Tuomo gas pipeline with dynamites at about 9.00 pm on Tuesday. 

"That line was earlier repaired, last week and again vandalized. We, however, suspect that dispute over the surveillance contract led to the attack. The Agip pipeline links major oil facilities in Delta and Bayelsa States,” he added. 

The new militant group in a statement by its Creek Network Coordinator, “General” Torunanawei Latei, said it was teaming up with the Niger Delta Avengers and Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB. 

“It issued the Federal Government a seven-day ultimatum to release Nnamdi Kanu, former National Security Adviser, NSA, Sambo Dasuki and direct EFCC to defreeze the bank accounts of ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupol, alias Tompolo, Threatening to shut down all oil exploration activities in the Niger Delta at the expiration of the ultimatum, the group also demanded “unconditional immediate payment to victims of the Bonga Oil Spill and Chevron gas explosion in Koluama, Bayelsa state.

"It is extremely important to note that the engine room of the national interest is the executive obedience to court orders, protection and preservation of citizens’ constitutional liberties. Justification of executive disobedience to court orders as a protection of national interest is abominable. 

This is a deliberate ploy to bend the law and suspend the 1999 Constitution. We ask, does President Muhammadu Buhari have any legal capacity to declare anyone as a criminal? Disobedience to court orders is an act of executive rascality in the country,” the group added.