7,000 suspected pipeline vandals may lay down arms
May 25, 2016
Written by:
Kunle Oderemi
MORE than 7,000 suspected militants believed to be the brain behind vandalisation of oil and gas pipelines may soon lay down their arms, one of the Niger Delta groups, Isaac Boro Born Last (aka) Forest Soldiers, has said.
The development is coming on the heels of the indication given by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed of government’s willingness to dialogue with militants that were prepared to sheathe their swords.
Activities of the pipeline vandals have lately dipped Nigeria’s daily oil export from more than two million barrels a day to 1.2 million, with serious implications for the 2016 federal budget pegged at $38 per barrel.
In an electronic mail tagged: “We are ready to lay down our arms,” and signed by one self-styled ‘General’ Ossy Ibori (aka) Baba Were, on behalf of the other leaders of the group, however, listed some six conditions that should be met before they could lay down their weapons.
These include: “That the Federal Government declares and states unequivocally its commitment to dialogue and reconciliation;
“That the Federal Government affirms in no unmistakable terms its commitment to capturing all aggrieved groups and their members that agree to disarmament in empowerment schemes and rehabilitation;
“That the Federal Government and all its coercive apparatuses unambiguously demonstrate and declare their commitment to dialogue, reconciliation, rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Niger Delta.
“That the Federal Government must uphold truth, equity and fairness in dealing with major stakeholders that are championing the struggle for freedom, emancipation, development and prosperity in the Niger Delta. There must be no room for betrayal, subterfuge and hypocrisy, but a true display of sincerity, piety and honesty on the part of the government and state apparatuses.”
He said the authorities had 30 days to consider the willingness of members of the group to lay down their arms, just as it dismissed claims that the members were criminals hiding under the appalling condition in the oil-bearing communities in the Niger Delta to sabotage the nation’s economy.
The spokesman claimed that the members of the group formed the nucleus of the leadership of a coalition of forces that operated in places where there were oil pipelines in Lagos and Ogun states.
According to him, the use of force by the authorities cannot solve the problem of militancy in the Niger Delta, but a true engagement with the aggrieved people of the region.
Part of the statement read:
“We are not dregs; we are not criminals, with an insatiable appetite for blood and sadism. We are not armed robbers; we are not beasts and terrorists, with propensity to wreak havoc, indulge in mindless killing, maiming and raping of girls and women.
“We state and declare unmistakably that we represent the conscience of the people of the Niger Delta and other patriots, as well as sincere members of the international community, who are anguished by the degradation of the Niger Delta and the dehumanisation of our people in all oil-bearing communities.
“We cannot be intimidated by any resort to threats and weapon of terror, as falsehood and pretences never conquer light and naked truth, which is the fulcrum of the current struggle.
“Our resolve to lay down our arms, if the Federal Government exhibits undisguised honesty and commitment now, must not and should not be misconstrued and interpreted as a sign of weakness.
“Rather, the Federal Government and other authorities and genuine foreign friends and investors should see our resolve to accept the official offer of amnesty as an eloquent demonstration of our commitment to exploring all decent and transparent approaches for settling fundamental national issues, disputes and addressing genuine grievances, based on standard practices across the world.
“Our members, numbering more than 7,000, form the nucleus of the leadership of a coalition of forces that has forest soldiers, (aka) Isaac Boro last born, are across the nooks and crannies of Lagos and Ogun states, especially where oil pipelines are located.
The development is coming on the heels of the indication given by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed of government’s willingness to dialogue with militants that were prepared to sheathe their swords.
Activities of the pipeline vandals have lately dipped Nigeria’s daily oil export from more than two million barrels a day to 1.2 million, with serious implications for the 2016 federal budget pegged at $38 per barrel.
In an electronic mail tagged: “We are ready to lay down our arms,” and signed by one self-styled ‘General’ Ossy Ibori (aka) Baba Were, on behalf of the other leaders of the group, however, listed some six conditions that should be met before they could lay down their weapons.
These include: “That the Federal Government declares and states unequivocally its commitment to dialogue and reconciliation;
“That the Federal Government affirms in no unmistakable terms its commitment to capturing all aggrieved groups and their members that agree to disarmament in empowerment schemes and rehabilitation;
“That the Federal Government and all its coercive apparatuses unambiguously demonstrate and declare their commitment to dialogue, reconciliation, rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Niger Delta.
“That the Federal Government must uphold truth, equity and fairness in dealing with major stakeholders that are championing the struggle for freedom, emancipation, development and prosperity in the Niger Delta. There must be no room for betrayal, subterfuge and hypocrisy, but a true display of sincerity, piety and honesty on the part of the government and state apparatuses.”
He said the authorities had 30 days to consider the willingness of members of the group to lay down their arms, just as it dismissed claims that the members were criminals hiding under the appalling condition in the oil-bearing communities in the Niger Delta to sabotage the nation’s economy.
The spokesman claimed that the members of the group formed the nucleus of the leadership of a coalition of forces that operated in places where there were oil pipelines in Lagos and Ogun states.
According to him, the use of force by the authorities cannot solve the problem of militancy in the Niger Delta, but a true engagement with the aggrieved people of the region.
Part of the statement read:
“We are not dregs; we are not criminals, with an insatiable appetite for blood and sadism. We are not armed robbers; we are not beasts and terrorists, with propensity to wreak havoc, indulge in mindless killing, maiming and raping of girls and women.
“We state and declare unmistakably that we represent the conscience of the people of the Niger Delta and other patriots, as well as sincere members of the international community, who are anguished by the degradation of the Niger Delta and the dehumanisation of our people in all oil-bearing communities.
“We cannot be intimidated by any resort to threats and weapon of terror, as falsehood and pretences never conquer light and naked truth, which is the fulcrum of the current struggle.
“Our resolve to lay down our arms, if the Federal Government exhibits undisguised honesty and commitment now, must not and should not be misconstrued and interpreted as a sign of weakness.
“Rather, the Federal Government and other authorities and genuine foreign friends and investors should see our resolve to accept the official offer of amnesty as an eloquent demonstration of our commitment to exploring all decent and transparent approaches for settling fundamental national issues, disputes and addressing genuine grievances, based on standard practices across the world.
“Our members, numbering more than 7,000, form the nucleus of the leadership of a coalition of forces that has forest soldiers, (aka) Isaac Boro last born, are across the nooks and crannies of Lagos and Ogun states, especially where oil pipelines are located.
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