A coalition of Niger Delta militants has in reply to the 3-months ultimatum issued by a Coalition of Nothern Youth Groups demanded the Federal Government to hand over the control of all its resources in the hands of northerners to the people of the oil producing region.
The demand is contained in a statement released by the coalition of Niger Delta militants wherein the group threatened to establish the Niger Delta republic on October 1.
The Coalition of Niger Delta Militants group comprising; The Niger Delta Watchdogs, Niger Delta Volunteers, Niger Delta Peoples Fighters, Niger Delta Warriors, Bakassi Freedom Fighters, Niger Delta Movement for Justice, Niger Delta Fighters Network and Niger Delta Freedom Mandate further noted that teh joint statement is towards the actualization of the Niger Delta republic.
In the communiqué signed by ‘General’ John Duku of the Niger Delta Watchdogs and Convener: Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators, ‘General’ Ekpo Ekpo of Niger Delta Volunteers, ‘General’ Osarolor Nedam of Niger Delta Warriors, ‘Major-Gen.’ Henry Okon Etete of Niger Delta Peoples Fighters, ‘Major-Gen.’ Asukwo Henshaw of Bakassi Freedom Fighters, ‘Major-Gen.’ Ibinabo Horsfall of Niger Delta Movement for Justice, ‘Major-Gen.’ Duke Emmanson of Niger Delta Fighters Network, and ‘Major-Gen.’ Inibeghe Adams of Niger Delta Freedom Mandate, the group said its warning is to all companies operating such oil blocs as it demands they quit within three months.
The statement reads: “A coalition of the Niger Delta militants met today in Port Harcourt to review the recent call by the Arewa Youths groups that the Ndigbo should vacate all the Northern states within three months.
“We see the declaration by Arewa Youths as a declaration which the northern elders, leaders, political elite, security heads from the North and governors were fully aware of.
“We demand 100 per cent control of our resources. We demand that the Federal Government should hand over all oil blocs owned by northerners to Niger Delta indigenes. All the companies operating in such oil blocs/wells should vacate within three months.
“The Federal Government should immediately relocate NNPC and all the offices that have to do with oil/gas sector back to Niger Delta states and immediately replace the Group Managing Director with an indigene of Niger Delta.
“All northern indigenes working in NNPC and any other board that has anything to do with oil/gas should be sacked with immediate effect.
“We demand an independent and sovereign Republic of Niger Delta. We are tired of living with the North under Nigeria. We are tired of the President’s sentiments against the Niger Delta people.
“The President can have time to receive the Chibok girls but could not have time to meet with the representatives of the Niger Delta agitators. Our money has been used to fund Boko Haram, a problem created by the Northerners in order to use it as conduit pipe to siphon the resources of Niger Delta.
“On October 1, 2017 we shall declare our independence come rain, come shine. We shall take our destiny in our hands and free ourselves from the slavery of the North as they are tired of one Nigeria.”