Militant group emerges in Imo; threatens to blow up Shell pipelines

A new militant group known as the Red Scorpion has emerged in Imo State, threatening to blow up Shell Petroleum oil pipelines in the state.

The group claimed re­sponsibility for the recent de­struction of two oil pipelines belonging to the Elf Oil Com­pany in Awara, Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area.

The incident occurred a few days after the Imo law­makers queried the exclusion of the state from the Federal Government’s proposed dia­logue with oil-producing states in the Niger Delta region as part of measures to quell the ongoing hostilities in the re­gion.

The lawmakers had dur­ing a plenary session to mark the beginning of the new leg­islative year last week, frowned at the exclusion of Imo from the government’s planned di­alogue with the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) and warned that the peaceful disposition of the youths from the state should not be taken for grant­ed.

The new group, in a post on their Facebook account on Tuesday, said that it has what it takes to cause damage to pipe­lines in the oil-producing areas in the state except they are giv­en what duly belongs to them.

It therefore warned oil companies in the area to evac­uate their workers with imme­diate effect.

Meanwhile, some of the ex-militants from the area, who confirmed the existence of the group, said they were not in­volved in the renewed mili­tancy.

They, however, main­tained: “That people are angry and blowing up pipelines is no longer news. It is their right; they can blow up pipelines and call themselves any name.”

We don’t believe in violence, IPOB tells Avengers

Meanwhile, the Custom­ary Government of the Indig­enous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) has told the Niger Delta Aveng­ers (NDA) that it does not be­lieve in the use of violence to realise the Biafra State.

In a statement it issued on Tuesday, IPOB said there has been an increase in violent in­cidents in the southern region of Biafra, with many emerging groups claiming responsibili­ties. It specifically mentioned the Niger Delta Avengers, which has been carrying out attacks on oil and gas facilities in the region.

“The Customary Govern­ment of the Indigenous Peo­ples of Biafra therefore wishes to reiterate our earlier resolve to pursue the restoration of a free Biafran state through legal and non-violent means.

“It is our belief that our people have suffered and died enough, and as such, we can­not afford to engage in any ac­tivity that will unleash anoth­er round of bloodshed on us,” IPOB said.