A coalition of seven militant groups operating in the Niger Delta under the aegis of Niger Delta Watchdogs (NDW) has insisted that the October 1 quit notice it handed down to Northerners to leave the region remains unaltered.

This is coming on the heels of an earlier order issued by some northern youth groups, penultimate week, asking Igbos to leave the North by same October 1.

The group also demanded the return of all oil blocks being held by Northerners to the people of Niger Delta.

They condemned in strong terms the recent meeting which Acting President Yemi Osibajo had with Northern elders.

The group, which made the declaration in a communiqué shortly after a meeting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on Thursday also demanded for the relocation of the headquarters of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to Niger Delta.

The communiqué was jointly signed for Niger Delta Watchdogs by self-styled General John Duku, who also doubles as the convener of the Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators; self-styled General Ekpo Ekpo for Niger Delta Volunteers; self-styled General Osarolor Nedam for Niger Delta Warriors; ‘Major-Gen’ Henry Okon Etete for Niger Delta Peoples Fighters; and ‘Major-Gen’ Asukwo Henshaw for Bakassi Freedom Fighters.

Others are ‘Major-Gen’ Ibinabo Horsfall for Niger Delta Movement for Justice; ‘Major-Gen’ Duke Emmanson for Niger Delta Fighters Network; ‘Major-Gen’ Inibeghe Adams for Niger Delta Freedom Mandate; and ‘Major-Gen’ Ibinabo Tariah for Niger Delta Development Network.

They threatened to declare the Republic of Niger Delta on October 1 except the Federal Government immediately restructures the country and allows the Niger Delta people have 100 percent control of their resources.

The militants expressed surprise over the inability of the Inspector General of Police, Department of State Service (DSS) and the army to arrest the Arewa youths who issued the threat against Igbos in the North, alleging that they’d consulted with these security outfits before they issued the threat.

The communiqué partly reads: “All Northerners living in the Niger Delta have been given three months notice to quit the Niger Delta before October 1, 2017.

“We still stand by our previous decisions, and we demand immediate return of oil blocks being held by Northerners back to Niger Delta people.

“All oil & gas companies operating oil block(s)/well(s) illegally held by Northerners should also vacate such oil blocks/wells/platforms before October 1, 2017.

“We demand immediate relocation of NNPC headquarters to Niger Delta and the replacement of the Group Managing Director of NNPC with an indigene of the Niger Delta region.

“All offices/boards/agencies that have anything to do with oil & gas should be relocated immediately to the Niger Delta region and all non-Niger Delta directors/staff replaced with Niger Delta indigenes.

“We are not surprised by the actions of the Inspector General of Police, Department of State Service and even the army as they were all consulted and were fully aware of the threat by Northern youths before it was issued, that is why they are incapable of making any arrest.

“We are fully prepared to declare the sovereign Republic of Niger Delta come October 1, 2017, the day of freedom is near.

“We, therefore, call on all our compatriots to remain focused, united and steadfast as the battle is going to be brief but fierce.

“The liberation of our people and motherland is our target; we shall liberate our people from the slavery of Nigeria and the Northern parasites.

“We shall bring to our people a nation that shall guarantee equal opportunity, justice and shall respect the rule of law and uphold the sanctity of human life.

“We want to sound this as a warning to all the Northerners living in the Niger Delta to quit our land before October 1, 2017 as this is not just. (Independent)

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