A new militant group known as the Red Scorpion has emerged in Imo State, threatening to blow up Shell Petroleum oil pipelines in the state.

The group claimed responsibility for the recent destruction of two oil pipelines belonging to the Elf Oil Company in Awara, Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area.

The incident occurred a few days after the Imo lawmakers queried the exclusion of the state from the Federal Government’s proposed dialogue with oil-producing states in the Niger Delta region as part of measures to quell the ongoing hostilities in the region.

The lawmakers had during a plenary session to mark the beginning of the new legislative year last week, frowned at the exclusion of Imo from the government’s planned dialogue with the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) and warned that the peaceful disposition of the youths from the state should not be taken for granted.

The new group, in a post on their Facebook account on Tuesday, said that it has what it takes to cause damage to pipelines in the oil-producing areas in the state except they are given what duly belongs to them.

It therefore warned oil companies in the area to evacuate their workers with immediate effect.

Meanwhile, some of the ex-militants from the area, who confirmed the existence of the group, said they were not involved in the renewed militancy.

They, however, maintained: “That people are angry and blowing up pipelines is no longer news. It is their right; they can blow up pipelines and call themselves any name.”

•Excerpted from The AUTHORITY. Photo shows militants.