Niger Delta Militant Group Blows Up Gas Trunklines In Delta

UGHELLI—AN Urhobo militant group, Urhobo
Gbagbako, yesterday, claimed responsibility for
two explosions that rocked two major gas
trunklines belonging to the Nigerian Petroleum
Development Company, NPDC, located on the
boundaries of Afiesere and Ekredjebo
communities and Otedo and Edjovwe
communities both in Ughelli North and Ughelli
South Local Government Areas of Delta State.
Urhobo Gbagbako, in a statement by its
spokesperson, Priest Omodjuvwu, said that the
explosions were in protest against those he called
“traitors” the NPDC had continued to send to
Urhoboland in a bid to manipulate their
unsuspecting and once peaceful communities.
He said: “These petty crumb eaters can only
cause pains to the NPDC, Shoreline and the
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC,
in a promised sham settlement to the lingering
crises to these companies and government
agencies.
“In believing the empty promises of these evil
doers and traitors, you continue to slowly drive
your NPDC, NNPC and Shoreline into a certain
abyss you will never recover from and we the
Urhobo nation will continue to demand for our
fair share of the pipeline surveillance contract jobs
for the sake of equity and justice.
“We, Urhobo Gbagbako, a militia group of all ex-
militants, youths, women and elders of Urhobo
ethnic nationality, did not and have not given any
individual or group, authority to speak on our
behalf on any issue as it concerns the pipeline
surveillance contract job.”
Confirming the incident, President General of
Afiesere community, Mr. Emmanuel Shikaleke,
said: “I was called by officials of NPDC, who had
earlier come to assess the level of damage on the
trunklines by the actions of the boys.
“For now, there is nothing we can do other leave
the matter for the authorities to handle. As I speak
with you, men of the Nigerian Army are at the
scene to forestall further attack.”