Niger Delta development advocate, Chief Ayiri Emami, has strongly condemned the recent vandalism of Chevron Nigeria Limited pipelines in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State.
The pipelines, used for transporting natural gas and crude oil, were sabotaged last Friday by a group identified as the Niger Delta Liberation Movement (NDLM).
In a personally signed statement released to the media, Emami described the incident as “unfortunate and unwarranted.” He expressed strong disapproval of the NDLM’s actions, emphasising that destruction was not a solution to grievances.
“There is no justifiable reason to burst the pipelines,” Emami declared, adding that the Itsekiri people have access to civil and lawful channels to address disputes with Chevron Nigeria Limited and other international oil companies operating on their land.
The NDLM, in a press release, claimed responsibility for the attack, referring to it as “Operation CHEVRON DRAGNET.” The group reported that the operation targeted pipelines measuring 6, 8, and 10 inches in diameter in the early hours of Friday, November 22.
Calling for swift action, Emami urged security agencies to identify and apprehend those behind the vandalism. “There is a need for security agencies to ensure this kind of incident does not recur,” he said.
He further appealed for unity and support for the Federal Government’s efforts to enhance crude oil production. “The President Bola Tinubu administration is doing everything possible to increase the daily crude oil production in the country, and every critical stakeholder in the Niger Delta, as well as other parts of the country, should support the President’s resolve,” Emami stated.
Reiterating his commitment to peace and development in the Niger Delta, Chief Emami urged all parties to engage in constructive dialogue rather than resorting to destructive actions.