Posted by From Emmanuel Ogoigbe, Warri on
Even as nine foreign oil wrokers taken as hostages are still being held in an unknown location, defiant Ijaw militant youths Monday, vowed to shoot down any airplane flying within their territory.
Even as nine foreign oil wrokers taken as hostages are still being held in an unknown location, defiant Ijaw militant youths Monday, vowed to shoot down any airplane flying within their territory. This is coming at a time as they have fortified their stronghold to ward off any external aggressor.
Daily Sun gathered that the militants' threat follows unconfirmed reports that the United States government has concluded plans to invade their stronghold at Okerenkoko where the abducted nine expatriate oil workers are suspected to be held.
Chairman of Warri Ijaw Peace Monitoring Group, Chief Patrick Bigha, while reacting to the government's plans, warned of the danger inherent in attempting to use force to free the hostages and vowed that the militant youths will use the last drop of their blood to resist such attempt.
He warned that if any American troop dares to come to the creeks, the story will be too bad as all their interest in the Niger -Delta will be jeopardized. Bigha promised that the youths would not only kill the hostages, but also make sure that all Chevron oil installations were reduced to rubble and even waste the rest of their nationals in the Niger -Delta region.
The chairman described the Ijaws as people who are already down no longer fear any fall. 'We will kill the hostages and attack Chevron facilities and installations in the area".
Chief Bigha, who claimed there are indications that the American anti-terrorist troops have already arrived the Niger -Delta to fight the freedom fighters who are in custody of the hostages, further warned of a bloody consequence if the Americans carry out their threats.
'Instead of mediating on both sides, they have decided to send troops to attack us. However, we are not going to fold our hands and watch them attacking and killing our people like chicken", said Chief Bigha, who promised that his boys will return fire-for-fire.
Meanwhile, an Ijaw opinion leader, Prince Collins Eselemo, has promised to negotiate with the captors so that the hostages will be freed as soon as possible.