General Secretary of Egbema and Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation, EGCDF, Mr. Jude Ebitimi Ukori, on Wednesday, said the militants that bombed Chevron Nigeria Limited RMP 22, 23 and 24 in Dibi Field, Warri North Local Government Area of Delta state chased away men of the Pipeline Surveillance before the bombings.

Ukori who made this known in a chat said, “when I called this morning to confirm what happened, a member of the pipeline surveillance told me that the militants chased them away before carry out the bombardment. If not for the Almighty God, they could have killed them.”

Ukori lamented that this renewed hostility in the Niger Delta region is more worrisome than the first one. He added, “The worse of it is that the federal government has not demonstrated enough commitment in terms of resolving the matter. They should apply diplomacy because the Niger Delta issue is peculiar. All the pipelines repaired by Chevron Nigeria Limited have all been destroyed again.”

He pleaded with all militant groups in the Niger Delta to cease-fire and embraces the federal government dialogue. “This continuous bombardment is becoming worrisome. The whole environment has been devastated. The entire waterways have been polluted with crude oil due to militants’ continuous bombardment of oil facilities. There is no battle that can be won without seating in a round table.

If they are fighting for us they should listen to our plea and made themselves available.”

(Independent)

•Photo shows Niger Delta militants.