ACN cautions MEND over attacks on oil facilities

The Action Congress of Nigeria, Bayelsa State chapter, on Monday condemned the incessant attacks on oil facilities in the Niger Delta and appealed to the Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta to sheathe its sword.

Describing the recent attack on a facility belonging to the Nigeria Agip Oil Company in Brass Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, as sad and unfortunate, the party implored MEND, a militant group that claimed responsibility for the incident, to stop reintroducing violence into the region.

The party’s Publicity Secretary in the state, Mr. Christopher Abarowei, in a statement in Yenagoa, said, “These threats of attacks by MEND on oil installations will result in a cut of oil production by half and adversely affect development of the state and the Niger Delta in general.”

He advised MEND to stop mounting additional pressure on the overstretched security outfits in the country.

He said Nigerians would not afford another regional unrest amid the Boko Haram insurgency that had unsettled the northern part of the country.

He said continual attacks on pipelines would only disrupt oil production and affect the development of the country and the region.

He, however, called on the Federal Government to address the problems of unemployment and poverty in the country as a lasting solution to youth restiveness.

Abarowei said, “A resurgence of militant activity on a government whose security operatives are already overstretched by the Boko Haram insurgence is a serious and contending security threat to the nation. ACN calls on MEND to reconsider its threat on the plight of the innocent people its action.

“ACN calls on MEND to exercise restraint and threats and action overheat the already tensed polity, it will also pose a security threat to the peace and development of the Niger Delta and Nigeria in general.”

via Punch