Militants warn Buhari against meeting elders from the region

Buhari is slated to meet selected elders from the Niger Delta

The meeting was earlier scheduled to hold on October 29, 2016, but was moved because it is a Saturday.

According to GJM, it is not a wise decision to meet the same people who allegedly caused the problem in the Niger Delta.

The militant group also said the elders, led by Chief Edwin Clark, have no moral right to speak for the region.

A statement signed by its spokesman, Aldo Agbalaja, said “We thought we should not continue to ignore the grand error being orchestrated by those who are responsible for the current parlous state of the Niger Delta region. These people seem to have succeeded in bewitching and railroading the Federal Government into settling for a dialogue with them in the name of the Niger Delta people.’’

The GJM also warned the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Shell not to start operations at the Trans Forcados pipeline in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta.

They said ‘‘Trans Forcados crude is under force majeure from operator Shell since a militant attack on the subsea pipeline in February and it is due to resume operation this week following the completion of repair works and maintenance.

“We do not have much to say to the oil companies than to just dare them to reopen the Trans-Forcados pipeline. We are aware that you are experts at testing wills, especially as you believe that you have a military shield. Please, go ahead to restart the facility and see what will happen.’’

The Niger Delta Avengers have also vowed to resist any form of what they described as modern colonisation of the Niger Delta.