Niger Delta militants seize Liberian vessel in Nigeria

Nigeria: A Niger Delta militant group 'The Concerned Militant Leaders' CML has captured a Liberian vessel along Bakassi Peninsula of the Nigerian waterways according to reports. This comes as the group also revealed it's next target for attack as the Frontier Oil in Eket, Akwa Ibom state.



The vessel was heading to the Nigeria Liquefied Nat­ural Gas (NLNG), Bonny, Rivers state before it was intercepted by the group.


Spokesperson for the group General Ben, revealed that the ship was seized as part of their effort to cripple the economy due to its griev­ances against the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

In a statement issued on Wednesday July 20 Mr. Ben said they were yet to ascertain the number of crew members onboard the ship, adding that they have every other information about the ship.
He said:

“The vessel has the following details (ex­cluding crew onboard), MMSI: 636015354; IMO: 9113551; gross tonnage: 25,202; Country Flag, Li­beria; Crude oil tanker and Pilot, Captain Marcus.” 

The group ruled out any possibility of negotiating with the Federal government anywhere, except it is around the Atlantic Ocean, which is an area under their con­trol.

The group also warned that no mili­tant group should negotiate with the government until it attend to the agitations of the Niger Delta agitators, especially the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, which the group in particular, is con­cerned about.

 “This is the worst gov­ernment we have had since this democratic dispensa­tion. People are suffering and dying due to hardship and government does not want to listen to the griev­ances of our people. 

“There is no time again for negotiation with any government, and no group, even the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) should not do that. Government should wait for us and ex­pect more pipeline attack,” the group added.