By Tare Youdeowei

BENIN—THE Niger Delta Patriotic Front has said that the on-going efforts by the Joint Task Force, JTF, in the Niger Delta to fish out those who vandalized oil pipelines must not be misconstrued as an affront to the Ijaw.

BOMBED—Major Gen. Alani Okunola, Commander of the Joint Task Force (Middle); pointing to part of a severed pipeline, while Brig. Gen. Farouk Yahaya, Commander, 4 Brigade, Benin (2nd left); Lt. Col. Igwe P. Omoke, Commanding Officer, 3 Battalion Effurun (2nd right)and others watch during inspection of the gas pipeline in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State bombed by suspected militants. Inset: Other damaged areas. Photos: Akpokona Omafuaire.

The group frowned at comments insinuating that Chief Ayiri Emami was instrumental to the current travails of Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), noting that Emami has no personal grievance against the Ijaw but was vehemently opposed to the destruction of national assets.

In a statement by its President, David Odeli, the group condemned what it described as undue attacks on Emami by some Ijaw leaders, warning that any attempt to foment crisis between the Ijaw and the Itsekiris would be resisted.

“What Chief Emami is saying is that anybody involved in the recent destruction of oil pipelines in the Niger Delta should be arrested no matter how highly placed the person may be. He has no personal problem with Tompolo as some persons are mischievously trying to imply,” he said.