Tension grips oil firms in Niger Delta as Avengers renew threat

There was palpable tension on Saturday within the Niger Delta region of Nigeria following a renewed threat by a volatile militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), to resume hostilities on oil facilities.
As a result, many oil firms and contractors were seen in panic mood, a situation that the locals said was worse than the situation in September 2016 before the group declared a cease fire.
Before declaration of the ceasefire last year, the group’s activities had shut down Nigeria’s oil output by nearly 50 percent, effectively driving the economy towards recession.
Read also: Army targets killer herdsmen with ‘Operation Accord’
An NDA spokesman, self-style Brig.Gen Mudoch Agbinib, said the Federal Government had been taking the group for granted.
“It has been evidently clear that the Nigerian state is not ready for any form of dialogue and negotiation.
“All fighters and commands are hereby placed on high readiness in your webs of operations to hit and knock the enemy very hard,” he stated.
According to the group, nobody should be surprised with the way the renewed hostility could take.
The group, which code-named the new hostility as “Operations Walls of Jericho and Hurricane Joshua,” further stated, ”We will not agree to any cease fire until we reclaim our motherland”.
Reports say other militant groups in the region , except the Avengers, had split into different factions, making control of their struggle uncoordinated.
But what is said to have spurred the militants into action was the latest publication of NNPC list of about 40 firms given the contracts to lift crude oil from the oil-rich region.
Another former militant group, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), which had agreed to lay down arms in 2009, had also announced its loss of confidence in the government to bring peace to the region.
The two groups were alleged to be the main brain behind pipeline attacks, which began in early 2015, reducing greater share of Nigeria’s economy.
And, in what appears a coordinated response, Pan- Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), an umbrella body of some very senior citizens in the Niger Delta led by Edwin Clarke had also warned that the patience of the different interest groups in the region was thinning and that peace might no longer be guarantee

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China positive about US negotiation remark on North Korea

China said on Thursday it was positive that the United States is open to resolving tensions over North Korea through talks. Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang made the comment at a regular news briefing in Beijing. The Trump administration said on Wednesday it aimed to push North Korea into dismantling its nuclear and missile programs through tougher international sanctions and diplomatic pressure, and remained open to negotiations to bring that about. NAN reports that the U.S. stance, which appeared to signal a willingness to exhaust non-military avenues inspite of repeated warnings that “all options are on the table,” came in a statement following an unusual White House-hosted briefing for the entire U.S. Senate followed by a briefing to the House of Representatives. The statement from Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Defence Secretary Jim Mattis and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats described North Korea as “an urgent national security threat and top foreign policy ...

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Armed youths kill scores in Akwa Ibom/Cross River boundary attacks

Fresh trouble erupted again on Saturday as armed youths, from Ikot Offiong in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State, reportedly killed scores of fishermen during another attack of Ikot Ada Akpan Community in Oku-Iboku, Akwa Ibom State on Saturday. Dr. Demson Ekong, an indigene of the area said that, the attackers came in six speed boats from Ikot Offiong in Cross River and opened fire on the fishermen. Though, the death figure could not be ascertain at the time of filling this report but, the source said, “Some fishermen have been killed as the actual number of casualties are yet to be determined. “There is a serious attack on Oku-Iboku this morning. The attackers came in six speed boats but, were repelled by the military But the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Akwa Ibom State police Command, Mr Chukwu Ikechukwu, who confirmed the incident said ‘‘No death was recorded’’. ‘‘What I know is that, the youths from Ikot Offiong went to Ikot Ada Akpan community again...

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I’m different from young artistes – Majek Fashek

Since his return to the Nigerian music scene, veteran reggae maestro, Majek Fashek, has been on a conscious mission to once again stamp his feet on the music space, reclaiming his throne as the only musician in the world who can draw rain with his music fic. In a recent interview with HIPTV, the rain maker, as he is fondly called, claimed there is a cut clear difference between the quality of sound and music he makes and that of young artistes. According to Majek, “I make sound while all these young musicians make jam, I make good sound but they are always jamming, they don’t make good sound, they just jam. My song ‘Send down the rain’ was made over thirty years ago, but if you listen to it today, you will realize that the sound will appeal to both the old and equally the young ones because the sound is good and still relevant today, that is something the young musicians don’t have.” In a one-on-one chat with E-Daily , Majek explained that his statement in the i...

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