Conviction of Okah: MEND promises to attack with nuclear warhead.

In retaliation for the convictions of two of its members to life imprisonment, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has promised to stage an attack that would be likened to a massive earthquake that will be trigged by nuclear war head, which will destroy the entire oil wells, oil pipelines and installations across the country. In a statement dated 23rd January, 2013 signed by one Comrade Azizi, with reference MEND/QTD/82MP/2013 and subject: Conviction of our Leader and Founder Mr. Henry Okah, the militant group acknowledged the conviction of their leader, Henry Okah in a South African court and described the judicial process that led to his being found guilty on 13 counts charges of terrorism as “Aso Rock Politics on a man who refused to be bought over.” Henry Okah was last week found guilty by South African court on terrorism charges and is awaiting sentencing likely to be life imprisonment. Four days after his conviction, an Federal High Court sitting in Abuja also sentenced another accomplice of the former MEND leader, Mr. Edmund Ebiware, to life imprisonment for his failure to disclose to the agents of the Nigerian Government that acts of terrorism were being planned. While delivering his ruling, Justice Gabriel Kolawole who had listened to the testimony of the witnesses as well as seen the exhibits, denounced Ebiware’s attitude and The judge drew from Section 40 (B) of the Criminal Code Act, which says anybody that becomes an accessory to treason or becomes aware of the commission of treason and fails to give evidence to the President, a State Governor or a law enforcement officer in order to prevent the commission of the crime, is liable to treason and sentenced to life imprisonment. He concluded that the accused person is adjudged guilty as charged, being aware early in September 2010, that Henry Okah was planning a bomb attack but did not give such information to any of the persons or authority listed in Section 40 (B) of the Criminal Code Act. An enraged Ebiware had a violent encounter with the security operatives at the premises of the court after his conviction yelling on top of his voice in a gesture apparently targeted at the media saying: "my conviction is political after what I have done for this country is this how they will pay me back." But it seemed that the threat letter had already been written before Ebiware was convicted last week. Part of the threats in the statement, which was made available to goodnameafrica, were that the disintegration of Nigeria would start from the region, The banishment of the Minister of the Niger Delta Ministry Mr. Orubebe Peter Godsday from Delta State and the entire Niger Delta region as well as promises to attack the families of the Nigeria ruling class abroad. “To the Nigerian Government, you have seen NOTHING, the disintegration of Nigeria will start through us and by us and we are well equipped for this task. We have details of all the family members of the Government (1999-2013) and our Diaspora Command will take care of that aspect, we will get to them, we will skin them and post their remains to your door steps as compensation to the Ode people, except our resources are handed over to us without conditions. All Federal, States and Local Government officials under the pay roll of the Government ( ministers, Permanent Secretaries, Director Generals, Directors etc ) should stay away from the Niger Delta, if found anywhere in the South South region, they will have themselves to blame and that is if they live to tell the tales.The Minister of the Niger Delta Ministry Mr. Orubebe Peter Godsday is hereby banished from Delta State and the region at large pending when he returns the money he stole which was meant for the Niger Delta Development Councils and also while with:(a) Burutu Local Government Council, Delta State (1991-1993),(b) As second Member: Primary Education Board, Asaba, Delta State 2000-2003.(c) As the Special Adviser to James Ibori former Delta State Governor on Urban/Regional Planning between January 2004 and November 2005. This whole money belongs to the Niger Delta people and must be returned or he should be ready to face the consequences along with your nuclear and immediate family members. To our Natural Resources, there will soon be a massive earthquake that will be trigged by our nuclear war head, this earthquake will destroy the entire oil wells, oil pipelines especially to Kaduna refinery, oil installations, oil rigs and what have you, when it happens, which we know will be very soon, the Government and those owners of these oil wells and installation will know it’s a different ball game. All oil companies, (foreign or local) should start parking up from the region as this might be the last warning, we really will not want civilians to be caught in between so please take this warning seriously. To our old breed Commanders, you can talk as much as you want just because you were bought over for a token but we wonder why the fight against your masters, the hurricane is almost there and it will sweep everything left,” the statement read. While expressing their disappointment with the South African Government for the conviction of their leader, MEND in the statement said that some South African companies and citizens would be targeted if they meddle into the nation’s affairs. “To the South Africa Companies: we made some promises before and now we are repeating same, LEAVE NIGERIA totally, there will be massive and aggressive campaign on all companies owned, operated and affiliated to the South African Citizens or their Government both in Nigeria, Western and Southern Africa respectively.” While promising not to hide their faces or dialogue with their old comrades who the government might use for peace talks, the group chided the Nigeria Army not to “underrate their capabilities which will take the Nigerian Military another 10 years to catch.” The grouped said in the statement that would start after Henry Okah’s appeal. According to analysts, the statement looked like a mere threat with no real appeal and since it came without the infamous Gbomo Jomo signing off the statement, it could well be a distraction from getting justice to be done.