Attacks on oil facilities, economic sabotage – Ateke Tom

27th Jan. 2016

A FORMER Niger Delta militant leader, High Chief Ateke Tom, has called on those involved in the bombing of pipelines and other oil facilities in Delta State not to destroy the country.



Pix: High Chief Ateke Tom, Former Niger Delta Militant Leader

Ateke Tom, who described the attack on the nation’s oil installations as condemnable, urged perpetrators of the act to desist from the illegal act.

The leader of the defunct Niger Delta Vigilante, who spoke with newsmen on Tuesday, also condemned the level of destruction on the nation’s oil facilities, even as he described it as economic sabotage.

He noted that it was wrong for any youth to take laws into his hands based on the flimsy excuse of poverty, adding that the attack on oil installations was a setback to Nigeria.

“Nobody has right to take the law into his or her hands for whatever reason to cause destruction of government property. The oil installations you destroy today has dire consequences on your tomorrow.

“Poverty is not a guarantee to commit crime. So, hardship is not an excuse to commit crime,” Ateke Tom, who spoke through his spokesman, Mr. Ifeanyi Ogbonna, added.

The former Niger Delta agitator, however, advised youths to shun armed robbery, kidnapping and crude oil theft, adding that the best option for them (youths) was to embrace peace.

“This country belongs to all of us and we should not destroy it. We should join hands with the current administration to build a better Nigeria of our dream,” he said.

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