Niger Delta militants under the aegis of the Niger Delta Volunteers (NDV) have stated that arrangements have reached an advance stage with other agitators to declare a Sovereign Republic of Niger Delta (SRND) on October 1, 2017.

Besides, the group has called on International Oil Companies (IOCs) to relocate to the region before the set date, failure, which would attract resumption of hostilities against oil and gas infrastructure in the region.

These threats were contained in a statement signed by the leader of the group, General Ekpo Ekpo, and made available in Uyo yesterday. He said the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and other pro-Biafra elements should steer clear of Akwa Ibom, adding: “We are not part of Biafra; we belong to Niger Delta.”

The self-acclaimed leader of the group, who frowned at the action of some Niger Delta leaders who recently met with Acting President Yemi Osinbajo under the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), said: “We totally condemn the recent meeting of PANDEF with the Acting President and wish to state clearly that the delegates from Akwa Ibom State to that meeting did so on their own because they did not consult with relevant groups and therefore cannot claim to speak for everybody in the region.” (The Guardian)