THE Federal Government may have begun gradual security reinforcement around oil installations in the troubled Niger Delta following threats by armed groups in the region to cripple the oil industry, the mainstay of the nation’s economy in retaliation for the military attack on some Ijaw communities in Bayelsa, Edo, Ondo and Delta states.
The Joint Revolutionary Council, a radical militant group comprising of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, The Reformed Niger Delta People�s Volunteer Force and the Martyrs Brigade had on Monday threatened to prove to the world that the oil produced by the Nigerian state comes from the land and blood of the people of the bighted region by crippling the oil facilities in the Niger Delta.
Vanguard investigation, however, revealed that the military authorities are not taking the threat from the militants in the Niger Delta for granted as massive movement of men and materials are being witnessed around oil-fields and installations in the last three days.
A security operative who spoke anonymously told Vanguard that all commands have been directed to be on red alert in the wake of the renewed tension in the Niger Delta.
The Joint Task Force, it would be recalled on Sunday, launched surprised attacks on some Ijaw communities in Bayelsa, Delta, Ondo and Edo states in a move security sources described as part of the renewed efforts to mop up arms and wipe out the militants from the region
�The current siege by the occupation forces of the Nigerian state is a glaring picture of the fact that the Nigerian state has refused to recognize the grievousness of the Niger Delta question where a people so blessed have become so cursed.
� Nigeria still refuses to recognize the pains of the people of the Niger Delta. �While they deceitfully call for a summit on the Niger Delta chaired by a United Nations official of Northern Nigerian stock, the Nigerian state still believes that they can attack our communities and get away with it. We will see.
�With further attacks on our people, we will prove to the world that the oil produced by the Nigerian state comes from the land and blood of our people. Therefore, we will call the shots in that regard. Make no mistake.
�Today marks another glorious chapter in the history of the people of the Niger Delta and their struggles.
�We wish to warn all combatant elements in the Niger Delta to stay away from snitchy politicians and Ijaw elites who have for too long now provided informant roles to the government of the Nigerian state while leaning on the leverage we provide to satisfy their own ambitions. The time has come to pay them back in their own coin.�