JUST IN: Niger Delta militants seize a ship, unveil new target
– Niger Delta militant group has seized a vessel reportedly belongs to Liberia
– The group stated that it would decide over the fate of crewmembers until July 27
– The militants further appealed to other groups not to hold talks with President Buhari’s government
Vessel with the crude oil
The Concerned Militant Leaders (CML), another Niger Delta militant group, captured a vessel with Liberian flag along Bakassi Peninsula of Nigerian waterways, Daily Sun reports.
This comes as the group revealed that the next target for attack would be Frontier Oil in Eket, Akwa Ibom state.
The ship was heading to the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), Bonny, Rivers state before it was seized by the group.
READ ALSO: Pro-Biafra ex-militants hijack ship, demand Kanu’s release
General Ben, the spokesperson of the CML, revealed that they seized the ship as part of their grievances against the government of President Muhammadu Buhari and to cripple the economy.
In a statement issued on July 20, Wednesday, Mr. Ben said they were yet to ascertain the number of crewmembers onboard the ship, continuing that they had every other information about the ship.
He said: “The vessel has the following details (excluding crew onboard), MMSI: 636015354; IMO: 9113551; gross tonnage: 25,202; Country Flag, Liberia; Crude oil tanker and Pilot, Captain Marcus.”
The CML ruled out any plan to negotiate with the Nigeria’s authorities anywhere, unless it is around the Atlantic Ocean, which is their area of control.
The spokesman noted that the group had not decided what to do with the vessel and crewmembers now, but would inform the government of their intention before Wednesday, July 27.
He cautioned that no militant group should negotiate with the government until it addressed the agitations of the Niger Delta agitators, especially the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, which CML, in particular, is concerned about.
“This is the worst government we have had since this democratic dispensation. People are suffering and dying due to hardship and government does not want to listen to the grievances of our people.
READ ALSO: I understand your pains – READ passionate letter to Niger Delta militants
“There is no time again for negotiation with any government, and no group, even the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) should not do that. Government should wait for us and expect more pipeline attack,” the group added.
Renewed attacks by new militant groups in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta region since early this year have reduced Nigeria’s oil production to a 22-year low.
Some experts believe that if President Buhari sticks to his sledge hammer approach, the violence will escalate and the target and tactics of militants may change as well, with dire cascading economic and security consequences for the country.
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