Group Vows To Cripple Oil Supply To North

A group, Association of Ethnic Nationalities, AEN, in the Niger Delta region, has vowed to cripple supply of petroleum products to states in northern Nigeria.

In a full page advertorial published in a national daily today signed by Joseph Akpan Essien, the group threatened to disrupt the supply of petroleum products to the North until the people and governments in the states in the region take action against Boko Haram members and other zealots living in the area.

According to the group, it has watched the unfolding scenario in the country whereby Boko Haram members boast that they would harm President Goodluck Jonathan, its kinsman and how the group has continued to maim, butcher and make its brothers in the North to suffer violently.

“This state of affairs cannot go on. We hereby warn that continuous attacks by this sect threatens the continuous harmony and existence of this country and in the event this is not curtailed, we will have no option than to consider our option,” the association threatened.

It warned that leaders in the North must take responsibility and bring Boko Haram members to justice, adding that they will be liable or accountable for the havoc they wreak on peace loving Nigerians resident in the North.

The group demanded that all states in the North must ensure adequate protection for non-indigenes, Christians, churches and especially all the properties of Niger Delta indigenes in the area.

It also warned politicians in the opposition parties who cashed in on the Boko Haram menace to attack Jonathan to desist from further inciting Nigerians against the person of the president and his administration or the association will henceforth stop the exportation of oil which every part of the country enjoys.

The association promised to swing into action to protect the life and property of its kinsmen, if the Boko Haram members should go ahead with their attacks and make good their recent threat to attack oil installations.

The group said its advertorial and warning should be regarded as a red alert which should not be ignored.

—Moyo Fabiyi & Desmond Utomwen/Abuja