By Francis Sadhere
Following the huge economic lose and environmental degradation brought about by the activities of militants in the Niger Delta region, Chairman, Kokodiagbene Community in Warri South West local government area of Delta state, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, has warned the militants to stop further attacks on oil facilities.
Comrade Mulade handed down the warning while addressing the Youths of the Gbaramatu kingdom recently.
He also advised the youths of the community to desist from any act of involvement or aiding any pipe vandal, illegal bunkers and criminals in their communities.
According to him, “It’s pertinent to note that Gbaramatu Kingdom has been on the fore front of agitating for development of the region, in spite of the Kingdom contribution, the people have been labelled and tagged criminals by her enemies and instigating Federal Government, Security against us. Therefore, as a people, we must review our roles to avoid the experience of 2009 bombardment.”
While calling on the Federal Government to adopt dialogue means to resolve the lingering quest of the Niger Delta people, Comrade Mulade said the people of Gbaramatu had expressed dismay over the deadly attacks which have cut oil and gas production and the attendant devastation of the environment.
Speaking further he said, “To this end, the people of Gbaramatu called on the militants to lay down their arms and keep clear from our territory as their activities were antithetical to the genuine agitation of the people and the overall development of the oil rich region.”
Describing those militants involved in the bombings of pipeline as unpatriotic elements from the region, Comrade Mulade said their activities are destroying the ecosystem, urging the security operatives to fish out and prosecute the militants to serve as deterrent to others.
“It is worthy of note to say that, the security agents should be extremely carefully and thoroughly investigate their political informants in other not to mislead the military, because it baffles me to believe that up till this moment the security agents have not been able to arrest any of the core members of the Militant groups to end this ugly menace.
“I want to remind the militant groups perpetrating these erroneous act of the 2009 military bombardment which led to the destruction of some Ijaw communities and up till now some of the villages were yet to be rebuilt and adequate compensation paid to the victims, and advised them to have a rethink, noting that Ijaw people do not want to suffer the same fate again,” he added.
