Pipeline Attack: Coalition Of Ijaw Communities Call For Ceasefire, Urges Fg To Exercise Restraint

Source: thewillnigeria.com

SAN FRANCISCO, January 18, (THEWILL) – Coalition of Ijaw Communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta state has urged the conflicting parties in Gbaramatu to refrain from resuming armed confrontation and the destruction of oil and gas pipelines in the area.

Speaking on behalf of the coalition, the Chairman of Enekorogha community in Warri South West Local Government Area, Comrade Chris Ejoh urged perpetrators of the destruction to refrain from further attack for the sake of the communities who are beneficiaries of the numerous oil and gas projects.

Ejoh who expressed worry over the aftermath of the multiple pipeline attacks, said that because of the incidence, several pipeline repair project ongoing in Enekorogha and other Ijaw Communities like the Escravos to Warri oil and gas pipeline were suspended and workers evacuated while others near completion were blown up.

“NNPC/PPMC officials were expected to come inspect the repair work on Friday when news of the sabotage of these pipelines came to us.

Both the ones undergoing repair and the ones running normally were vandalized and it is really unfortunate”, he lamented.

The communities also called on the Federal Government to exercise great caution in dealing with ex-militants in the Niger Delta so as not to jeopardise the relative peace in the region and reassured contractors handling pipeline repair jobs with the Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) not to be discouraged over the present situation.

Story by David Oputah