Imo militant group threatens to blow up Shell pipelines

A new militant group, Niger Delta Red Squad (NDRS), has surfaced in Imo State.

This is coming barely two weeks after lawmakers queried the exclusion of the state from Federal Government’s proposed dialogue with oil producing states in Niger Delta to quell the current hostilities by Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).

The lawmakers, during plenary marking the beginning of the new legislative year, argued that the state had been deliberately sidelined by the facilitators of the dialogue because of its youths’ disposition to peace.

They expressed worry that the exclusion might trigger militancy similar to what was happening in other Niger Delta states.

NDRS has claimed responsibility for the bombing of two pipelines belonging to Elf Oil Company at Awara, Ohaji Egbema Local Government Area.

The group threatened to attack Shell pipelines in Oguta Local Government Area and shut down all oil wells in the state.

In a post on its Facebook account, NDRS said it has what it takes to carry out the threat.

It warned that until the oil producing areas in the state were given what “rightfully belongs to them”, there would be no peace for oil companies to operate in the state.

NDRS warned oil companies to evacuate their workers with immediate effect.

Also, some former militants from the area have confirmed the existence of the group.

But the ex-militants denied complicity in the renewed militancy.