We’re running out of patience, militants tell FG

Niger Delta militants have threatened to resume hostilities, alleging that the two weeks cease fire agreement elapsed without any commitment on the part of the federal government.

The fighters said government officials are more interested in grandstanding, rather than initiating dialogue with them.

In a statement titled: ‘If you make the peaceful change that we seek impossible, we will make violent change possible’, a group called Ultimate Warriors of the Niger Delta said if the situation continued that way, massive attacks on oil assets will commence in the days ahead.

“Our patience is running out and we have decided to let the world know our grievances pure and plain again,” read the statement signed by Sibiri Taiowoh, spokesman of the group.

“We are sounding this as a last warning before the whirlwind gets down. The tsunami that would descend in coming days would be severe for the current government to handle.

“We bet you this government wouldn’t be able to handle what would happen in the Niger Delta in the days ahead. The operations that would follow these plans are strategic and all operations would be codified as our goals have been codified in a one line mission statement. Our mission is simple; give us our rightful due as producer of Nigeria oil wealth.

“The federal government cannot continue to give us crumbs. We own the oil, we own the wealth, we will no longer accept outsider’s controlling oil blocs that are in our land. We want 60 percent of it for our people because we own the resources that sustain the country.

“If the federal government cannot call itself to order by visiting the Niger Delta Master Plan or commence immediate implementation of the portion of the 2014 National Conference which created a new road map for the speedy development of the region, then Buhari should expect violent change for his first four years in office.”

The statement said the struggle is for the common people in the Niger Delta, dismissing the insinuation that some leaders in the region were behind the uprising.

“When it gets down, they would say the opposition is behind it but we don’t care. All over the world, militia groups emerge for a reason and we have made our reasons clear and vivid,” the statement read.

“We would not give you the peace you want to continue the exploitation of our people if we don’t see proactive government action on major federal government projects in the Niger Delta like the multibillion dollar Export Processing Zone (EPZ) project and the already approved Federal University of Maritime in Okenrenkoko, Delta state.

“For us, this is not about Jonathan, not about Tompolo and any other person they are pointing fingers to as master mind of this well planned attacks. This is about us-the indigent people. This is about our mothers and children you are being ripped off. And some have said why now; it is simple. There is time for everything; this is the time for change and we want the change in the Niger delta now!”