The militia group, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) on Tuesday claimed it was responsible for the gas explosion which rocked the Warri Refinery and Petroleum Chemical Company in Warri, Delta State. Insider sources say, they sabotaged the refinery in continuation of its declared ‘Hurricane Exodus’ which is targeted on the oil and gas industry.

Their statement made available to Julia Blaise Blog reads thus:


“The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) takes responsibility for the sabotage this morning, Tuesday 22 October, 2013, inside the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (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”.