Another militant group emerges, threatens to attack Utorogu gas plant

Ovie Okpare- Warri
DESPITE federal government ’s ceasefire order to allow for
dialogue with rampaging Niger Delta militants, another militant
group, Utorogu Liberation Movement, on Thursday announced its
birth, threatening to attack West Africa ’s biggest gas plant,
Otorogu Gas Plant in Udu and Ughelli South council Areas of Delta
State.
ULM also threatened to blow up oil facilities along the Oil Mining
Lease 34 and other oil facilities in the upland parts of the Niger
Delta.
The group in a banner message issued by Gen. K. Omovudu and
others which was erected near the Motor Park in Out-Jeremi,
headquarters of Ughelli South council , also declared support for
the Niger Delta Avengers.
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Utorogu Gas Plant is Nigeria’s biggest plant which fields the
Egbin Power Station, Lagos and others in the country.
A community source who drew the attention of our correspondent
to the emergence of the group said the people of the area were
already living in confusion and fear.
But the group in their banner mission statement said, “My good
people of Utorogun community, Otu-Jeremi , Otor-Udu, Iwkrekan,
Ekakpamre and all oil and pipeline communities within this
region, this is the voice of ULM in collaboration with outgas force.
“It is a secessionist move. The awareness of things happening in
our environment is a means to outline our course of action. The
awareness is an agitation for economic balance. We have a
common enemy, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company,
NPDC and ND Western who hate your progress and wish you die in
poverty.”
A military source confirmed knowledge of the group to our
correspondent. The source added that residents brought the
development to their attention on Thursday morning.
However, an ex-militant and President of National Coalition for
Niger Delta Ex-Agitators, NCNDE -A, Israel Akpodoro, has
condemned the proposed Federal Government dialogue with the
Niger Delta Avengers and other splinter militant groups in the
region.
Akpodoro in a statement issued in Warri said if the FG should
dialogue with the members of the NDA, it meant it was indirectly
in dialogue with ex-militant leader, Mr Government Ekpemupolo
(Tompolo) whom he said prides himself above the law.
He expressed anger with the President Muhammadu Buhari led
government for negotiating from the position of weakness
rather than the other way round.