Soldiers and other security operatives have been deployed by the Federal Government to oil installations along the nation�s waterways following the expiration of the ultimatum given by the militant Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) for oil companies operating in the region to leave or face the wrath of the organization.
Indications that the Federal Government took the ultimatum very seriously emerged when soldiers were removed from check points to the known flash point areas in Warri metropolis and deployed them to the rivers over the weekend.
It was gathered that following intelligence reports that the clandestine organization is most likely to attack in the swampy area which is natural to the people who carried out the last attacks, including the kidnap of four expatriate oil workers in an offshore location last month, the government decided to deploy troops to the creeks.
THISDAY checks in Warri also revealed that security was beefed up at the Warri Refinery and the NNPC jetty where vessels lift and discharge petroleum products.
Investigations revealed that along the waterways and swamp area more soldiers have been drafted to assist those already on grounds.
At Odidi I and II Flowstations where some boats militants were repelled last month, all boats coming in and passing through are thoroughly searched, while the Forward Operating Base (FOB) requested by the navy and approved by the Federal Government recently and based on Beniboye Island has become operational with a Navy Commander as officer in charge.
It would be recalled that the navy blamed its inability to respond effectively and immediately to the attack on the EA platform belonging to Shell on the fact that it has no operating base nearby to immediately respond to calls soon after the attack.
Also, more soldiers have been deployed to the Forcados and Escravos Oil Terminals.
But reacting to the ultimatum, the National Assistant Secretary of the Ijaw youth Council (IYC) and leader of Meinbutu, Mr. Mailbond Esaba said that the ultimatum should be disregarded.
According to him MEND is a faceless organization that is non-existent in Ijaw land as the leaders are unknown.
Esaba insisted that he was neither the secretary of MEND nor a member of the organization.
He said that media reports giving this impression are wrong as the struggle which he champions does not believe in kidnapping, Vandalisation of pipeline or killing of innocent souls.
Instead, �the IYC believes in the empowerment and development of the Niger Delta which is the goose that lay the eggs which sustains this nation�. He stressed.