"This is a clear warning to all Niger Delta politicians, traditional rulers, community leaders and the likes of Tompolo to mind their business and leave the liberation of the Niger Delta people to the Avengers... Neither you nor the federal government can stop us. If you don’t stay clear and let us carry out our activities, we will bring the fight to your individual doorsteps. Our major goal is to cripple the Nigerian economy."
The Niger Delta Avengers, a newly formed militant group, have followed through with their threats to wreak havoc on the country's economy by blowing up oil and gas pipelines.
The latest attacks occurred 24 hours after a major attack was carried out on Chevron's platform at Escravos.
In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Mudoch Agbinibo, the group claimed responsibility for blowing up "crude line that link Warri and Kaduna refineries, respectively." It also claimed to have damaged the gas line that feeds the Lagos and Abuja electricity power supply.
"With this development, the Warri and Kaduna refineries will be shut down and all cities that depend on the gas line for power will all be in total darkness, like the creeks of the Niger Delta," the group said.
The group added that on Thursday, its Strike Team 7 blew up Well D25 in Abiteye, a major gas facility owned by Chevron.
The team also blew up major pipelines in Alero, Dibi, Otunana and Makaraba flow stations, which feed the Chevron tank farm, putting it out of operation. Currently, Chevron's operations in the Niger Delta have been completely disrupted.
The group announced that it carried out the bombings about 100 meters away from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipeline, where a military houseboat is stationed to protect the pipelines.
"We want the public to know that despite the heavy presence of military operatives, our activities can’t be stopped and it just a waste of funds and time to make the Nigerian military protect oil installations," the group boasted.
Mudoch Agbinibo warned the people of the Niger Delta against undermining the group's agenda.
"This is a clear warning to all Niger Delta politicians, traditional rulers, community leaders and the likes of Tompolo to mind their business and leave the liberation of the Niger Delta people to the Avengers... Neither you nor the federal government can stop us. If you don’t stay clear and let us carry out our activities, we will bring the fight to your individual doorsteps. Our major goal is to cripple the Nigerian economy," he warned.
The spokesman also called on all Niger Deltans to attack oil installations in their communities and urged them to see the war as theirs.