Oil-Producing Communities: New Militant Group’s Activities Anti-Niger Delta

Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa

The Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSCON), the umbrella body of all oil-bearing communities in the Niger Delta region, on Tuesday voiced its opposition to the activities of the Niger Delta Avengers, the new face of militancy in the area.

National Chairman of the organization, Dr. Mike Emuh, while condemning the ongoing attacks on sensitive national oil and gas installations in the region, described the attacks as ‘’anti-Niger Delta and anti-development’’

Emuh argued that whatever grievances that the militant group has against the Federal Government could be discussed rather than resorting to the unwarranted anti-people’s approach, which the body noted could have a far reaching implication on the Niger Delta eco-system for a long time to come.

‘’ We believe strongly that no matter the deprivations, ecological problems, environmental pollutions and other humanly created problems that are today bedeviling the oil and gas producing communities can be resolved through dialogue and not through the use of violence or even military brutality.

‘’HOSCON is very much aware that in an effort to clamp down on the rampaging and very mobile militant group, very many innocent persons/communities will fall victims of the security personnel who are mandated to carry out the Federal Government directives.

‘’This will no doubt create fresh bad blood between such innocent persons and communities which will in the final analysis not be in the interest of the Federal Government’’, it noted.

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