SAN FRANCISCO, June 15, (THEWILL) – The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) may have made good its threat to resume hostilities against the Federal Government as it claimed responsibility for the bombing of a fuel tanker at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) depot in Abaji, Abuja, Saturday morning.
Maintaining that the attack was the beginning of its suspended operation, tagged 'Hurricane Exodus,' MEND , in a statement issued by its spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, said it would henceforth bomb every tanker found distributing petroleum products as part of what it described as its legitimate war against injustice, corruption, despotism and oppression in the country.
It would be recalled that the group, few week ago, said it had suspended its threatened attacks on the downstream sector following the intervention of key players in the Niger Delta, including the Presidential Adviser on Niger Delta, Hon Kingsley Kuku.
However, the outlawed group said the unconditional release of Henry Okah, Charles Okah and others being held over the October 1, 2010 twin car bombings in Abuja will make it stop its renewed attacks.
MEND also asked the Federal Government to render an unreserved apology to it over what it said was the forging of a letter threatening the South African Government which was purported to have originated from MEND and used as evidence in the trial and conviction of Okah.
The group demanded that the Federal Government should convene a regional conference to discuss the core issues of the Niger Delta, including the injustice, under development, environmental degradation within three months, just as it demanded the resignation of the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.
The MEND statement issued by Gbomo reads: “'Hurricane Exodus’ resumed at about 00:05Hrs on Saturday, June 15, 2013, when field operatives from the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (M.E.N.D), stealthily attached portable military limpet explosives magnetically to two (2) articulated tanker vehicles laden with petrol in a queue outside the NNPC depot in Abaji, the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
"The devices were timed to detonate simultaneously several seconds later. The outcome was predictable.
"This segment of exodus codenamed ‘Operation Touch and Go’ is targeted at the soft underbelly (downstream sector) of the oil industry in Nigeria.
"From today, every tanker vehicle we find distributing petroleum products including propane gas has become a legitimate target in our war against injustice, corruption, despotism and oppression".
"Drivers of tanker vehicles continue to drive them at their own risk. The public is hereby advised to maintain a safe distance from such vehicles as they can explode anytime and anywhere.
"Harassment on these tanker vehicles would be sustained until the following demands are met; Henry Okah, his brother Charles, and other innocent persons set up as scapegoats and held over the October 01, 2010 twin car bombings in Abuja be released unconditionally.
"That an unreserved apology be tendered by the Nigerian government to MEND for presenting a forged email letter threatening the South African government purported to have originated from us and used as evidence in the sham trial and conviction of Henry Okah.
"That a separate independent body outside Nigeria investigates the forged letter so as to ascertain its authenticity and make their findings public.
"That since our struggle has never been about a Goodluck Jonathan Presidency, nor about being beneficiaries of dubious pipeline protection contracts and other forms of bribery, a conference to address the injustice, under development, environmental degradation and outstanding root issues confronting the Niger Delta region must be fixed to hold within three (3) months.
"That the corrupt and inept Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke resigns as Minister of Petroleum."
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