The Aggrieved Freedom Fighters Forum (AFFF), a coalition of Niger Delta ex-agitators, has retracted its petition calling for the cancellation of the pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL). The group had earlier accused the firm of failing to meet expectations, marginalising local youths, renaming Ijaw communities without consent, fueling illegal bunkering, and inciting ethnic conflicts in Delta State.
However, in a recent statement released in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, AFFF leader General Seiyifa Gbedeke (aka Don Cairo) announced the withdrawal of the petition and issued an apology to PINL, the federal government, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), and the people of the Niger Delta. Gbedeke admitted that the allegations were premature, lacked proof, and were based on false information.
After engaging with stakeholders—including PINL representatives, fellow ex-agitators, and beneficiaries of the company’s scholarship and medical outreach programs—the group reversed its position.
“We acted hastily and were misinformed. We sincerely apologise for our error,” Gbedeke said, acknowledging PINL’s compliance with its contractual obligations as defined by NNPCL and the federal government. He also commended the firm for employing nearly 15,000 Niger Delta youths, organizing medical interventions, and funding educational scholarships, all of which have helped maintain peace in the region.
Seunmanuel Faleye is a brand and communications strategist. He is a covert writer and an overt creative head. He publishes Apple’s Bite International Magazine.
