‘Don’t Reopen Trans-Forcados Line or Negotiate with Clark Group’

Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba
New militant group, the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate (NDGJM), has warned against reopening of the breached Trans-Forcados pipeline in Delta State.

The group also expressed opposition to wthe proposed negotiation meeting between the federal government and some stakeholders in the Niger Delta region allegedly led by erstwhile information minister, Chief Edwin K. Clark, towards the resolution of attack and destruction of oil and gas facilities in the area.

In a statement made available on Saturday, the spokesman of the NDGJM, “General” Aldo Agbalaja, the group said that the oil companies should not believe they were protected by heavy presence in the area that they could ignore the warning.

The statement said, “We do not have much to say to the oil companies than to just dare you to reopen the Trans- Forcados Pipeline (TFP). We are aware you are experts at testing wills, especially as you believe that you have a military shield. Please go ahead of restart the facility and see what will happen. Enough said.”

Moreover, the statement, titled “Do not put on the Trans-Forcados pipeline”, said it considered it inappropriate for the federal government to decide to deal with the people of the Niger Delta through certain individuals who have allegedly been hands-in-gloves with successive governments and oil companies that have for decades perpetrated economic and environment justice against the region.

It described the October 29th dialogue with the national Ijaw leader, Clark-led group as “grand error being orchestrated by those who are responsible for the current parlous state of our region.”