‘Hurricane Exodus’ in full swing to cripple Nigeria’s economy –MEND

‘Hurricane Exodus’ in full swing to cripple Nigeria’s economy –MEND

 By KELECHI MGBOJI

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has declared that its operation ‘Hurricane Exodus’ is in full swing to cripple Nigeria’s economy in the weeks ahead.

Contrary to federal government’s claim that the group only exists in cyberspace, a statement issued over the weekend by the group claimed responsibility for last week’s fire outbreak at the Warri Refinery.

Reviewing its operation between 20 and 26 October, the militant group said several well-heads, feeder pipe lines were damaged by ‘Hurricane Exodus’ in Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta States of Nigeria.

The statement signed by its spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, and obtained by ExclusiveNewsonline, MEND also claimed responsibility for the killing of three un-named soldiers and a police officer at border communities of Rivers and Bayelsa states, the abduction of two American sailors off the Nigeria coast, adding that the kidnapped victims are in good health.

While claiming to have killed all the security operatives in the area, MEND debunked the claim of the Douglas family that it did not pay any ransom for Mrs. Augusta Douglas Ayam’s release, insisting that 200,000 US Dollars was paid for her freedom.

It also dared ex-militant generals who have accepted amnesty to come out from comfort zone in Abuja and restore breakdown of order in the creeks.

Shedding light on the two American sailors kidnapped, MEND explained that the action was to show their displeasure with the Joint Naval Exercise with foreign Navies in the Delta Region.

 The statement reads in part: “The weak under review (October 20 – 26, 2013) was very eventful. Several well-heads, feeder pipe lines were damaged by ‘Hurricane Exodus’ in Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta States of Nigeria. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) which we earlier infiltrated with the full recruitment of a high level agent resulted in the successful sabotage from within on October 22, 2013. Throwing a ‘spanner in the works’ does not require rocket science or commando skills to execute. It only takes a belief in our cause to make things happen.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) now has agents inside every oil company. In neighbouring Rivers State, on that same day the Warri Refinery was sabotaged, a Joint Task Force (JTF) escort gun boat was engaged in a shootout in the Andoni Local Government area. Contrary to the version given by the Nigerian Army spokesman, the soldiers were not ambushed but confronted and the attackers were not armed robbers but MEND fighters. The one-sided skirmish ended with the killings of three (3) soldiers and a policeman.

In Brass, Bayelsa State, another boat belonging to the Joint Task Force (JTF) was attacked by another MEND team on the same day the two (2) American sailors, both of whom are psychologically and physically in good health, were abducted. All the security operatives were killed and their weapons collected. This incident has been conveniently concealed by the JTF.

It continued: “The sister of Mr. Oronto Douglas, Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Research and Strategy was released unharmed as we promised. She however had developed high blood pressure and malaria during her captivity. Contrary to the claim the family made in a press statement that no ransom was paid, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) can authoritatively confirm that the sum of 200,000 US Dollars was paid as ransom.

Some so-called ex-militants and jobless youths who have sold their birth rights for handouts were again paid to declare that militancy ended in 2009. As they continue to delude themselves, display their ignorance and irrelevance, the region, as can be seen by the world is in turmoil that can no longer be hidden. We dare the so-called ex-generals to come out from their hiding in Abuja into the creeks to restore order. Also the Niger Delta Amnesty office in the Presidency, issued a contradictory statement that MEND only exists on cyberspace. You may recall that this same office made a public appeal to MEND to refrain from our threat to attack mosques in retaliation to Boko Haram’s attacks on churches. They also made a private appeal for the Chevron Tank Farm in Escravos to be spared from mortar attacks which were scheduled for October 01, 2013.

In the early hours of Wednesday, October 23, 2013, an armed auxiliary outfit (referred by the authorities as pirates), attacked a US flagged oil supply vessel and singled out the two (2) Americans on board.

This action was also to show their disdain and content for an on-going Joint Naval Exercise with foreign Navies in the Delta Region. We have informed their abductors that Mr. Henry Okah would have wanted the men released as soon as possible”