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Tag: Avengers

  • Avengers resume bombings of oil facilities

    The Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), yesterday, claimed its fighters bombed Chevron Escravos export pipeline at Escravos offshore, Delta State.

    A statement signed by the NDA’s Spokesman, Brig. Gen. Murdock Agbinibo, signaled the resumption of bombings of critical oil infrastructures by the militant group.

    The militant group has been observing a ceasefire since the Federal Government indicated an interest to begin dialogue with Niger Delta stakeholders to address the problems in the region.

    NDA has been accusing the government of insincerity with the dialogue following alleged militarization of the region and the recently concluded Operation Crocodile Smiles which saw soldiers storming the creeks during the ceasefire.

    The Escravos pipeline was among the first oil installations crippled by NDA, before latest attack on the pipeline by the militants.

    NDA in the statement said it had earlier warned International Oil Companies (IOCs) that there should be no repairs of oil facilities pending the end of negotiation and dialogue with the government.

    The statement said: “Today at about 3:45am our strike team 06 took down Chevron Escravos export pipeline at Escravos offshore.

    “This action is to further warn all IOCs’ that when we warn that there should be no repairs pending negotiation/dialogue with the people of the Niger Delta, it means there should be no repairs.

    “Any attempt to use dialogue to distract us so as to allow the free flow of our oil will halt the dialogue process”.
    END.

  • Militancy: N/Delta Council disowns MEND, Avengers

    The Supreme Niger Delta Youth Council Worldwide (SNDYCW) has disowned the Niger Delta Avengers and the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), describing their activities as pure armed robbery

    The President General of the Council, Prince Michael Newgent Eaton, who stated this when the council, under the guidance of former Senate president, Mr Joseph Wayas, met with the leadership of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) in Kaduna on Thursday, stated that members of the MEND group and the NDA should be arrested and prosecuted.

    Ekamon said they were in Kaduna to meet with leaders and elders of the region who have served the country well and want to see that the country remain as one indivisible entity.

    “Our group is not militant group. We are here to see how we can build one Nigeria. We want to condemn the activities of the Avengers and MEND. They are criminals. But better put, armed robbers who are stealing the wealth of our land.

    “We know them. We know that some of the Avengers have served in the previous government and they are even serving in this present government.

    “If we are given the mandate, we will go and confront them in their houses.  So, we don’t want President Buhari to be deceived by their antics. There is nothing in the real sense like avengers. They are playing planks.”

    The President stated further that the problem in the region was not the problem of the Federal government, but that of the region’s leaders who have been sabotaging the region because of their greed.

    “What is it that the Federal Government has not done for the region? We have OMPADEC, NDDC, 13 percent derivation, Ministry for Niger Delta, security votes. We don’t know what our governors are doing with the security votes.”

    He said that it was based on this premise that the group was planning to hold a summit in Edo State between the 27th and 29th of October to discuss the problem in the region.

    “We are here to extend our hands of friendship to the people in this region and to seek their blessing and support. That’s why we are here with the former Senate President Joseph Wayas who has never been invited by any anti corrupt agency. We also have the blessing of former Head of state, General Gowon.”

    Responding, the chairman of the ACF, Ibrahim Coomasie, who was represented by Musa Liman, observed that the two regions have sustained a long period of friendship, adding the forum believes in the doctrine of one Nigeria where justice and equity prevail.

  • Military action won’t solve Boko Haram insurgency – Onaiyekan

    Military action won’t solve Boko Haram insurgency – Onaiyekan

    The Catholic Bishop of Abuja Arch Diocese, John Onaiyekan, on Tuesday said the use of military force by the Federal Government will not solve the problems posed by Boko Haram or Niger Delta Avengers.

    Onaiyekan, who said using force to solve a problem has never worked in any parts of the world, urged the government to dialogue with these groups to restore peace in the country.

    He urged the government to stop seeing anyone with a link with the sect as terrorist.

    Such people, he said, should be encouraged to talk to members of Boko Haram.

    Onaiyekan spoke at the National Inter-faith Dialogue Meeting organized by IPCR and International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID) in collaboration with the Interfaith Media Center (IMC), in Abuja, on Tuesday.

    He said: “We have been hearing about the Boko Haram, we have been hearing about the Niger Delta and other places and it probably seems to be taken for granted that all we need is better arms, better trained soldiers and we shall solve the problems.

    “I am afraid it has never worked that way, anywhere in the world. At some point after the soldiers have finished their job human beings must seat around the table and talk. There is nobody that you cannot talk with because everybody is a human being – the child of a mother and maybe the sweetheart of a woman.

    “Our own Boko Haram has not taken 52 years. We are only talking of three or four years. Surely, it is not too late to now move seriously in line of dialogue. That does not mean impunity. That does not mean that nobody cares about atrocities committed.

    “What it does mean is that no matter the atrocities it is always possible for human beings to see one another as brothers and sisters.”

    Onaiyekan urged the government to show more interest and put effort and resources in getting some dialogue going.

    “The Federal Government should be prepared to dialogue with everybody. Very often the military reaction or response can prepare the way for a fruitful dialogue but you must keep dialogue constantly in mind.

    “My fear is that we are not thinking of dialogue now. Things can go hand in hand. The federal government should put in a little bit more effort, a little bit more resources, and a little bit more interest in getting some dialogue going, “ he added.

  • Crushing avengers will not win the peace

    SIR, The gunboat diplomacy in the guise of ‘Operation Crocodile Smiles’ going on in the Niger Delta region is an expensive joke which may escalate the crisis. It shows that the government is yet to understand that to win the war is not to win the peace.

    While launching Operation Crocodile Smiles on August 27, Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, said that the purpose of the exercise is to protect government property and apprehend the vandals of the oil pipelines in the region. Days after, President Muhammadu Buhari in Kenya said that his administration will deal with the Niger Delta Avengers as it dealt with Book Haram if they failed to listen to him.

    The struggle for the liberation of Niger delta people started when Isaac Boro created Niger Delta Volunteer Force in 1966. Shortly after the formation, he declared Niger Delta Republic on February 23, of the same year. This led to his arrest and jail before he was release at the eve of the Civil war in 1967. He was sent to war front where he died a mysterious death in May, 1968 while fighting on the side of federal government.

    After a decade of his mysterious death, Ken Saro-wiwa under the canopy of MOSOP embarked on the same demands but in a non-violent manner. Unfortunately he and other eight Ogoni people were executed on November 10, 1995 by the federal might.

    In 2004, Asari Dokubo formed an armed group called Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force with the aim of liberating Niger Delta from the shackle of exploiters and oppressors causing poverty and environmental degradation in the region.

    Also, Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) under the leadership of Government Ekpemupolo attacked the oil companies and government on their insensitivity to the poverty and pollution in Niger Delta until President Yar’Adua granted them Amnesty in October, 2009.

    However, instead of the amnesty reducing poverty, ecological warfare and other inhuman conditions in the region, what it does is increase the armament race between the government and militants.

    Yet, the federal government still believes that the failed method it used 1966, 1995 and others will bring solution to the crisis.

    President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2009, came up with  amnesty programme which only benefited 1.5% of people in the region and widened the gap between the ‘haves and the have-nots’.

    The amnesty failed to recognise those that did not carry guns but suffering from the same pollution and poverty in the land. It neglected those that lost their fathers and mothers in Odi destruction under the watch of President Olusegun Obasanjo. It failed to accommodate children, youths and aged ones affected by the gas flaring and environmental degradation.

    That is the reason why the federal government must call Niger Delta conference where all the tribes in the region would be represented to discuss the way forward. It will be a fruitless exercise if the government continues its gunboat diplomacy in the region without addressing poverty, environmental degradation, ecological warfare and other inhuman treatment caused by the activities of the oil companies.  This is because the avengers would continue to avenge for the death of their predecessors until the causes of their deaths are no more.

     

    • Femi Oluwasanmi,

     Arepo, Ogun State.

  • Avengers: ‘What is going on is not agitation but blackmail’

    THE Executive Director of Grassroots Initiative for Peace and Social Orientation, Mr. Richard Akinaka, has charged President Muhammadu Buhari to engage ‘local boys’ to work in collaboration with the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta to protect national assets instead of engaging in military deployments.

    He said “Avengers are a platform for political and economic interests for selfish gains,” adding that “Elders should not tie into the scheme of the bad boys by bringing them into a good scheme.”

    Akinaka who had been involved in ensuring peace in the Niger Delta through the implementation of the amnesty programme said military deployment in the region would pitch the government against the locals while securing sympathy for those masquerading as agitators.

    According to him, “the success recorded by the team led by “Africa” in collaboration with the JTF in Nembe, Bayelsa State, where they arrested alleged killers of soldiers was an indicator that with proper interface and coordination, local boys working with the military would smoke out all the destroyers of assets.”

    The involvement of the traditional rulers, he admitted, was timely and to avoid full military deployment in the region but warned however that they should not go about such duties in such a manner as to give undue advantage to the Avengers as it would taint their efforts.

    While commending traditional rulers in the region and the Minister of State for Petroleum, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu for their interventions, which he said were yielding fruitful results, he doubted that those masquerading as defining the interest of the region by carrying out attacks were not true to their purpose.

    “While it is true that there are serious issues in the Niger Delta, the people who have been bombing pipelines in the region cannot say they are working for the overall interests of the region but for their own business interests. There is nothing to show that they are agitating for the region as everything they are doing is to further their business interests.

    “Where were they when President Goodluck Jonathan ruled the country for over six years without developing any part of the region? Calabar-Itu and Calabar-Ogoja roads are impassable; East-West Road could not be completed and there is no project in the Niger Delta you could point to as executed by that regime, yet it is the regime of President Buhari that is just a year plus in office that they are breaking pipelines and destroying assets to pressure him.

    “It is good that there have been positive engagements to restore peace to the region but the government should not negotiate or involve any doubtful element in the peace mix which would give them relevance.

    “The government should also not deal with those former militants who move from one office to the office claiming to know how to solve the problem. Those are just paper tigers whose relevance ends on their computers where they issue press releases and abuse people. Anyone who is concerned and has something he can do about the situation should go to the region and help solve the problem,” Akinaka said.

    He lamented that the Niger Delta states rely on oil revenue for their development and sustenance but that with the crippling of the sector through criminal destruction of the pipelines were unacceptable, pointing out that they were creating more hardship than helping the cause of the region.

    On whether the use of local boys would not spark another group war, he said that if credible names were used and an interface with the JTF adopted, any issue that arose from the scheme would easily be handled using traditional institutions who however he said should avoid impostors.

    “We need to point out that what is going on in the region now is not agitation but blackmail by people who have parochial interest to protect. But their game plan is to draw the federal government into deploying the military to villages where those who know nothing about the attacks bear the brunt. In the process, they will get the sympathy of people.

  • Avengers: MEND urges Fed Govt to ignore Clark, Okowa, others

    Avengers: MEND urges Fed Govt to ignore Clark, Okowa, others

    The Chief Edwin Clark-led group of elders has drawn the ire of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) for not condemning the Niger Diger Delta Avengers (NDA), which it last Friday asked to stop blowing up oil installations.

    MEND urged the Federal Government to ignore the Clark group for failing to condemn what it called the “criminal and treasonable activities of NDA”.

    On Saturday night, NDA, while reacting to the group’s plea, said it was in support of “genuine Niger Delta stakeholders conference to engage the Federal Government” on the issues affecting the region.

    In an online statement by its spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, yesterday, MEND said it was in support of the ongoing military operations in the Niger Delta to flush out the Avengers.

    It condemened the meeting of the representatives of Niger Delta Coastal States held last Friday in Warri, Delta State, which was jointly convened by Clark and Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

    MEND urged the Muhammadu Buhari administration to ignore the communique issued after the  meeting, saying: “The communique fails to categorically condemn the criminal and treasonable activities of the NDA. This is principally because the notable promoter of the meeting, Chief Edwin Clark, was recently named by the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA) as a major supporter of the NDA.

    “Chief Clark lacks the moral authority to lead a discussion on the so-called ‘re-structuring’ of the Nigerian federation at this critical point in the country’s history, given the fact that throughout the six years his ‘son’, former President Goodluck Jonathan was in power, the elder statesman kept mute and actively participated in the economic dismemberment of Nigeria. In fact, Chief Clark’s Abuja residence was an extension of the State House.

    “None of the persons who attended the stakeholders’ meeting convened by Chief Clark and Governor Okowa has the capacity to persuade the people of the Niger Delta region to support the current efforts of the Buhari Administration to bring peace and development to the region.”

    MEND said its members were prepared to tour the Niger Delta to drum up support for the Buhari administration, in an exercise code-named “Operation Moses”.

    NDA, which expressed its readiness to dialogue with the Federal Government, passed a vote of confidence in the Clark group.

    It said it would continue with the unilateral ceasefire it adopted before the region’s leaders and elders call and wait for the outcome of the talks.

    In a statement by its spokesman, Mudoch Agbinibo, NDA advised the Clark group that would be talking with the government to take the situation in the region with all seriousness, adding that if the option fails, it would return to attacking public facilities.

    It asked the government and its agents not to further provoke hostility in the region by using the military to invade communities, especially in the Ijaw axis, threatening to fight back.

    “We are going to support any collective/negotiation team emerging from the Chief (Dr.) Papa Edwin Kiagbodo Clark Niger Delta elders and genuine stakeholders conference to engage with the government, representatives from the home countries of all multinational oil corporations and neutral international mediators that will be focused on achieving the short, medium and long term frameworks and objectives to de-escalate conflicts in the Niger Delta.

    “Most of the frameworks and objectives are clearly stated in various reports, declarations and recommendations of the likes of the Sir Henry Willinks minority rights reports of pre-independence Nigeria (1957-8), the Kaiama Declaration document, the Gen. Alexander Ogomudia report, the Ledum Mittee-led Niger Delta Technical Committee report and restructuring to fiscal federalism.

    “We have resolved to reject any idea of the peace of our time; we want the peace with honour this time around! Our advice to our Niger Delta elders and genuine stakeholders is that, whenever this project called Nigeria and her government is ready for dialogue/negotiations with them, this mandate should be treated with the care that driving a truck laden with fire requires.

    “We are going to continue the observation of our unannounced cessation of hostilities in the Niger Delta against all interests of the multinational oil corporations, but we will continuously adopt our asymmetric warfare during this period, if the government continues to use security agencies/agents, formations and politicians to arrest, intimidate, invade and harass innocent citizens, suspected NDA members and invade especially Ijaw communities.

    “We promise to fight more for the Niger Delta, if this opportunity fails. Therefore, we will give our Niger Delta elders and genuine stakeholders that tacit support to the dialogue table with the government and the multinational oil corporations whenever the enabling environment prevails,” the statement said.

    The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) has hailed the NDA’s decision to opt for dialogue and urged the government to accept the offer in good faith.

    In a statement by its spokesman, Eric Omare, the IYC urged the government to ensure that the dialogue deals with the core issues keeping the region “perpetually in a state of conflict”.

    “The Ijaw Youth Council has always advocated dialogue as the means to the resolution of the Niger Delta crisis. As a result we welcome the conditional declaration of ceasefire by the Niger Delta Avengers if it is actually from them. We call on the government, especially President Buhari, to take advantage of this ceasefire to aggressively dialogue with the people of the region to address the issues affecting the region.

    “For the umpteenth time, we call for a bipartisan and sincere dialogue to resolve the root causes of the recurrent Niger Delta crisis. The dialogue should be issue-based and not to solve immediate problems and massage the ego of personalities. President Buhari must avoid listening to political hawks around him at the expense of the country’s unity and development,” the statement said.

  • I’ve nothing to do with Avengers, says ex-president

    I’ve nothing to do with Avengers, says ex-president

    Ex-president Goodluck Jonathan has denied having anything to do with the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).

    Jonathan spoke through a statement on August 7 by his media aide, Ikechukwu Eze.

    He said: “For the avoidance of doubt, we are fully convinced that such an idiotic claim is too cheap a narrative, a facile contrivance so badly concocted that any discerning mind would easily see through its disingenuous and duplicitous nature.”

    He said the names of those listed as alleged sponsors and supporters of NDA suggested a political agenda.

    “Since it is not in our place to speak for all those named in the obvious fabrication, we are only intervening to the extent that its hidden intent poses a violent threat to the life of former President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, a committed patriot who the Almighty God has given the grace and good health to rededicate his life to the service of humanity, after serving his dear nation as President to the best of his abilities.

    “We are also not bothered by this baseless accusation, contented that we are not the only ones conversant with Jonathan’s widely-acknowledged sincere disposition to peace, non-violence and better human community.

    “We are however seized by the feeling of déjà vu occasioned by the resurrection of one dim character masquerading as ‘Cynthia White’, who had in the past served as the spokesperson for a notorious group that had all along shown its hand to be going after the life of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

    “Nigerians could recall that in 2007 when Jonathan emerged as the running mate to the late President Umar’ Yar’Adua in the People’s Democratic Party during that year’s presidential election, this very group invaded Yenagoa with hundreds of militants in an effort to assassinate him.

    “Jonathan was only saved then by the spirited efforts of the combined forces of determined security men, who gallantly repelled the attack.”

  • Avengers deny paraded suspects

    The Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) has distanced itself from the two suspects who were paraded on Saturday by the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta as its members.

    In an electronic statement last night by its spokesman, Agbinibo Mudoch, NDA also urged security agencies to search the creeks, its hidout.

    The insurgent group said it would not shirk from confronting the military, if federal forces trailed its operatives into the creeks.

    It added that defeating the military in the creeks would not be a diffult task for its operatives.

    The NNS Delta, a a media briefing, paraded two suspects – Felix Miyenminiye and his nephew, Stanley Tonghan – as suspected members of the insurgent group.

    The suspects were said to have made “useful” statements.

    Although Miyenminiye denied being a member of the Avengers, Tongha admitted, saying his uncle (Miyenminiye) was the ring leader of a group, which had been destroying oil pipelines in the Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State.

    But denying the suspects, Avengers said: “Stanley Tonghan and Felix Miyenminiye are not members of NDA; we don’t know or have any connection with them. The Navy Commanding Officer (of) NNS Delta in Warri (Commodore Joseph Dzunve) is trying to impress his boss in Abuja by arresting sleeper agents recruited by his predecessor. Any criminal arrested is now an NDA member.”

  • ‘Jonathan has no link with Avengers’

    ‘Jonathan has no link with Avengers’

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan’s kinsmen in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State are rallying round him over his face-off with some militants trying to link him with the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).

    Youths from the area yesterday warned against linking him with NDA, which has been bombing oil installations and platforms in the Niger Delta.

    Rising from its meeting in Ogbia, the youth wing of  the famous Ogbia Brotherhood defended Jonathan, saying it was unthinkable that the former president would contemplate violence against Nigeria, which, according to the group, he loves so much.

    The National President, Ogbia Brotherhood Youth Wing (OBYW), Dr. Laguo Gilbert, described Jonathan as a man of peace and father of modern democracy in Africa.

    Gilbert said: “History has it that even from his youth, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has been a humble peace-lover who values good and quality education. This is why with such great thoughts he was able to grow to this current political position not minding his background.

    “Moreover, Dr. Jonathan’s political activities from deputy governor to President were in line with his true thoughts and characters which anchor on peace, integrity and drive for quality education. Truly, this has been demonstrated in the last 2015 general elections”.

    He said it was wrong to think that Jonathan, who saved Nigeria from bloodshed by handing over to the opposition would think of sponsoring a violent gang against the country.

    “This is why the Ogbia Brotherhood Youths wonder why detractors and enemies of progress would at this time come up with falsehood to intentionally deceive the public and discredit the former president”, he said.

    Gilbert said while in office, Jonathan contributed towards nation building, and has remained consistent in that position as a former president.

    He said: “Therefore, it is totally unreasonable for any group to intentionally drag this famous name to the mud. We, the Ogbia Brotherhood Youths, have discovered that the recent publication is not just senseless and baseless but also lacks merit and extremely unreasonable. It does not reflect the true character of Dr. Jonathan.”

  • IPOB fires Kanu’s lawyers over anti-Avengers comments

    IPOB fires Kanu’s lawyers over anti-Avengers comments

    •And ‘misleading’ public on negotiations with government •Gives conditions for negotiation

    The Nnamdi Kanu-led Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has dropped his defence lawyers for disowning the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).

    IPOB said in a statement late on Friday in Abuja that the utterances of the defence lawyers on negotiation between Kanu and the Federal Government as well as on the Avengers were “made without consultation.”

    “As a result of these unsolicited and unguarded utterances, the defence team has been sacked and will be replaced,” the group said in the statement by Emma Nmezu and  Dr. Clifford Chukwuemeka Iroanya.

    It added: “The IPOB leader wishes to state categorically that the only thing we are open to is negotiation that will lead to modalities and processes to restore Biafra and avert further hardships on the people of Nigeria who have been under bondage since his kidnapping and illegal detention.

    “The Niger Delta Avengers arose because of the inherent injustice in Nigeria as manifested in the disregard to the rule of law when Buhari refused to obey court order to unconditionally release our leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

    “We spoke the mind of our leader when we stated for record purposes that IPOB and Niger Delta Avengers share the same ideology of freedom for Biafra.

    “Anybody publicly dissociating IPOB from Niger Delta Avengers is a mortal enemy of IPOB family worldwide under the leadership of Nnamdi Kanu.

    “Let it be known that as long as Buhari and Daura continue to tamper with Nnamdi Kanu’s defence team through bribery, inducements and intimidation, IPOB will keep on changing the team.

    “For the records, the press conference by the now-sacked legal team was about bringing to public knowledge the foolishness of the Department of State Services (DSS) in bringing treasonable felony charges against our leader and the lack of evidence thereof.

    “The press conference was NEVER about negotiations because should negotiations start, IPOB will notify the world about it. Right now, we are not negotiating and will not negotiate until existing court orders ordering the release of Nnamdi Kanu are obeyed.

    “In the interim, Ifeanyi Ejiofor will continue to act as lead counsel until other counsels are appointed who will not sell their souls to the devil. Biafra or death!!!”

    Kanu’s lawyers had disowned MEND and NDA for linking their own agitations to Kanu’s incarceration.

    They said Kanu and IPOB had “no connection, contact, ties or any kind of relationship” with their members whatsoever.

    The lawyers, Ifeanyi Ejiofor and Amoebi Nzelu expressed Kanu’s willingness to negotiate with the Federal Government, saying he was prepared to accept a political solution in line with his belief that he is a political prisoner of conscience.

    Kanu and two of his associates – Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi (a Field Maintenance engineer with MTN) – are currently being held in Kuje prison, Abuja, following their arraignment before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

    The Federal Government recently directed the release of some members of the group arrested in February this year during a protest rally.

    On the claims that MEND was negotiating on behalf of Kanu and IPOB, the lawyer said: “Nnamdi Kanu has no connection, contact, ties or any kind of relationship with members of the MEND. As such, MEND has no implied, direct or express authority of Nnamdi Kanu to represent him or IPOB in any purported negotiation going on between MEND and the Federal Government.”

    Responding to a question on whether Kanu would abandon his campaign for an independent state of Biafra in exchange for freedom, Nzelu said that his client would not jettison the agitation even if he was released.

    He also said that Kanu has no ties with the Avengers.