MEND Claims Responsibility For Warri Refinery Fire

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has claimed responsibility for the attack on the Gas section of the NNPC Refinery in Warri, Delta State.

The group claims that the action was done in protest against the unsustainable and alleged fraudulent Niger Delta Amnesty Programme that has gulped billions of Naira.

The fire started at about 11am from one of the refining plants and was on the verge of spreading but for the timely intervention of fire fighters.

According to Leadership, fire fighters from Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), (Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), the state’s fire fighters as well as the standby fire fighters from the WRPC and that of PPMC battled for about two hours before the raging inferno was brought under control.

None of the officials of the WRPC was ready to comment on the incident but instead referred journalists  to the NNPC office in Abuja for official confirmation.

Spokesman, Gbomo Jomo, of the group said,  “MEND has taken responsibility for the sabotage this morning, Tuesday 22 October, 2013, inside the NNPC Refinery in Warri, Delta State of Nigeria. ‘Hurricane Exodus’ was intended to burn down the entire refining facility.

“As long as President Goodluck Jonathan continues to rely on an unsustainable and fraudulent Niger Delta Amnesty programme, peace and security will continue to elude his government in the region. ‘Hurricane Exodus’ is on course!”