Militants threatens to bomb oil facilities over planned removal of amnesty boss

A militant group, the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA) has again warned against the dire consequences if the Federal Government goes ahead to remove Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Professor Charles Dokubo.

In an e-mailed statement, RNDA cautioned that any attempt to collaborate with some cabals in the presidency to remove Dokubo, will be met with fierce anger, where oil installations and facilities will be blown up.

The group, which also threatened to cripple the nation’s economy once again, said the attempt to replace Dokubo, with one Dennis Otuaro, a younger brother to Deputy Governor of Delta State, would be resisted with brutal force.

The statement issued by ‘General’ Johnmark Ezonebi, added that after their meeting at the Benin River, the militants vehemently took a stand against the speculated gang up to remove Dokubo and replaced Otuaro, who is a PDP stakeholder and an ally of Government Tompolo.

They argued that it was the RNDA, comprising nine militant groups in the Niger Delta that accepted Federal Government’s ceasefire agreement for peace and worked for the eventual emergence of Buhari as President, while the Tompolo group mobilised and fought against the President Buhari-led APC administration from inception to date.

According to the statement, “Dennis Otuoaro, who is also one of Tompolo’s three apostles that were fighting against President Buhari could not be appointed as the Special Adviser to the President on Niger and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

“RNDA want to make it clear that any attempt to remove or to replace the hardworking honest man with a trust worthy track record of integrity would lead to collateral damage on all oil facilities and oil installations.

“We will cripple all major oil pipelines in the creeks of the Niger Delta. Enough of the infightings, blackmail and falsehoods against Professor Dokubo, a word is enough for the wise.

“The RNDA will not fold its hands and watch things deteriorate, as the desperate move by Minister of State for Petroleum Resources to hijack and hand over the Amnesty office to one of the allies of the former Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) group, has come to its notice.”

The militants also accused those behind the planned removal of Dokubo as being behind the destruction of oil pipelines and installations in the creeks in a bid to cripple President Buhari’s government because their kinsman and former President Goodluck Jonathan lost the 2015 presidential election.

The RNDA, therefore, urged President Buhari not to succumb to the conspiracy of those plotting to remove Dokubo from the Amnesty Office due to their own selfish interests.