Niger Delta Avengers Blow Up Oil Pipelines To Warri, Kaduna Refineries

Newly formed Nigerian Niger Delta militia group, the "Niger Delta Avengers," has carried out its threats to wreak havoc country's economy by blowing up oil and gas pipelines. 

The latest attacks on pipelines occurred 24 hours after a major destruction was carried out on Chevron's platform at Escravos.

In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Mudoch Agbinibo, the group claimed responsibility for blowing up "crude line feeds that links Warri and Kaduna refineries respectively". 

Amnesty International Condemns Reinstatement Of General Accused Of War Crimes

Amnesty International has condemned the decision to reinstate Major General Ahmadu Mohammed. Major General Mohammed, along with 8 other military officials, was responsible for the deaths of 8,000 detainees.

The military official commanded 7 Division when the military executed 640 detainees following an attack by Boko Haram on the barrack on March 14, 2014. The organization has argued that Major General Mohammed’s actions amounted to war crimes.

Niger Delta youths warn Federal Government Against Scrapping Maritime Varsity

President Muhammadu Buhari

Some Niger Delta youths, under the aegis of Youth Coalition Force for Niger Delta, said they have petitioned the National Assembly over an alleged plan by the Federal Government to cancel the Nigerian Maritime University, sited at Okerenkoko, in the Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State.

The move, according to the group, was in reaction to a recent statement credited to the Minister for Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, that there was a plan to scrap the Nigerian Maritime University.

Desist From Pipeline Vandalism or Face Full Weight of the Law – Military Warns Niger Delta Militants

The Defence Headquarters has observed with dismay the unpatriotic attacks on the nation’s economic lifeline in the Niger Delta.

In a statement by Brigadier General Rabe Abubakar, the Acting Director Defence Information, he said these attacks were carried out by some criminal elements, who were bent on destroying the nation’s strategic assets.

“The recent attacks on an oil facility in Delta state is a pointer to this direction. For the avoidance of doubt, the DHQ warns these criminal elements to desist from these unwholesome act of economic sabotage in the Niger Delta region for the overall benefits of the country.

Dutch Court Set to Rule On Case Seeking To Hold Shell Liable For Niger Delta Degradation

Multinational oil giant, Shell, may finally be held liable for the degradation of the Niger Delta caused by decades of its negligent oil exploration activities if the Dutch Appeal Court rule in favour of respondents in a judgement expected to be made on Friday.

The company may also be made to release previously withheld documents showing it failed to stop and clean oil pollution in the case which is first of its kind.

Amnesty International said in a statement that allowing the respondents access to internally held documents would reveal the extent of the damage done to communities by oil spills which still continues at a rate of 100 per day. 

The organisation also stated that the documents would also show shell had knowledge that its pipes were rusty and faulty.

The case, brought by environment group, Friends of the Earth, on behalf of four Niger Delta farmers, will also make it possible for those whose means of livelihood was destroyed by oil pollution to seek compensation from Shell. 

“This case is especially important as it could pave the way for further cases from other communities devastated by Shell’s negligence. It is vital that multinationals are made to answer for action abroad that would never be accepted in their home countries,” said Amnesty International researcher, Mark Dummett.

“There have been thousands of spills from Shell’s pipelines since the company started pumping oil in the Niger Delta in 1958, with devastating consequences for the people living there. They have heard endless false promises from Shell. Our research shows that even when Shell says it has cleaned up land, there are visible signs of the oil pollution that scars the land and destroys the economic prospects of a community that depends on farming and fishing.”

Source:  Premium Time News