Port Harcourt — A MILITANT group in the Niger Delta has alleged that the leader of the Niger Delta People's Salvation, Mujahid Asari Dokubo, has been relocated to another detention facility.

Meanwhile, the expected pull-out of Wilbros from Nigeria's Niger Delta region, owing to escalating militancy, hostage-taking and violence may jeopardised Nigeria's commitment to supply gas to neighbouring West African countries including Benin, Togo and Ghana before the close of the year under the auspices of the West African Gas Pipeline project (WAGP) even as government has warned the militant elements in the region.

In a statement released on behalf of the Joint Revolutionary Council, signed by Cynthia Whyte, the group expressed sadness at the relocation, warning that it could lead to further violence in the Niger Delta.

The group said they had resisted every urge for violence in the region in recent times but with his continued detention they might have no other option than to allow a resurgence of crimes in the area.

The statement: "It is with deep sorrow in our hearts that we once again proclaim the gross insincerity of the Nigerian state towards the key issues that underline the Niger Delta question. It has become clear that those who lord over the Nigerian state are not yet ready for peace.

"About five hours ago, the detained flag bearer of the Niger Delta struggle, Alhaji Mujahid Abubakar Dokubo-Asari, was dubiously removed from his Force CID detention centre to an unknown destination in Abuja. At this moment, no word has been heard from him or his abductors. Before he was moved, the abductors had alleged that he was wanted at Aso Rock Villa. Hours later, it was confirmed that the destination was not General Obasanjo's current abode.

"Over the past few weeks, the Joint Revolutionary Council (JRC) and its alliance members have held back and strongly resisted plots and plans to deploy grave measures of insecurity, facility sabotage and mayhem against the Nigerian state and her imperialist collaborators on September 21, 2006 as an anniversary gift of the new consciousness to the Nigerian state.

"Over the past few weeks, we have condemned in very strong terms, the wanton and reckless hostage-taking situations. We have chastised the perceived perpetrators and have questioned the essence of their foolish actions. Our decision not to threaten the peace was bolstered by the advice and directives of our supreme and esteemed leader, Alhaji Mujahid Abubakar Dokubo-Asari, and key Ijaw leaders. At this moment, we cannot guarantee the strength of this resolve to keep the peace. The spirit of war in us is being agitated.

"However, we enjoin all nationalists and heroic combatants of the Ijaw and Niger Delta struggle to stay calm as we await further directives from the senior hierarchy of the Joint Revolutionary Council. These directives will be issued in the next 42 hours.

"In furtherance thereof, let us warn those who have begun a dubious romance with the Nigerian state and her agents to desist from such association with immediate effect or they would be considered as enemies of our cause.

"Let us also state in clear terms that events of the past few weeks have strongly tested our combined resolve. There is a limit to how much provocation any human can take. No one has a monopoly of violence, madness or insincerity. A word is good enough for the wise."

Wilbros' pull-out

Neighbouring countries under the auspices of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had entered into an agreement aimed at the supply and distribution of gas from Nigeria to neighbouring West African countries, supported by international financial institutions including the World Bank.

Dr. Edmund Daukoru, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and President of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) said in an interactive session with chief executive officers and top management staff of major oil producing companies in Nigeria that the crisis in the Niger Delta region as well as the specific withdrawal of Wilbros Nigeria (the company handling the laying of the gas pipeline to West African countries) by militant groups might hamper its ability to get gas into the West Africa Gas Pipeline Project (WAGP).

Dr. Daukoru who briefed the oil multi-nationals on the government's efforts to restore peace and safe working environment in the Niger Delta region also said government was facing funding constraints to meet up with its counterpart funding for the repairs of all oil facilities belonging to the Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited (SPDC) Joint Venture to resume full operations in the region.

"I have my fears, even if the project is completed by the end of this year, we might not be able to get the gas required for Ghana, Togo and Benin Republic," Daukoro said, adding that government needed the co-operation of the oil companies to solve the problem on permanent basis.

"You people work in this environment, you are closer to them, we have been trying our best, but we need your co-operation to stop this problem. You need to tell us what you see or know which we do not see in order to solve this problem," the minister said.

The minister told the oil operators that about $225 million (about N29.3 billion) was required by Shell to put its damaged facilities back into operation.

The Federal Government through the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is expected to contribute 55 per cent of the funding, while Shell, Elf Petroleum Nigeria Limited and Agip Oil Company will contribute 30,10 and five per cent respectively as their equity funding.