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Tag: Avengers

  • Avengers: Fed Govt cautioned against military approach

    Avengers: Fed Govt cautioned against military approach

    Former President of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) and the secretary of a committee set up by the Delta State Government to dialogue with militants bombing oil facilities in the Niger Delta, Dr Chris Ekiyor, yesterday cautioned the Federal Government about its military approach to the bombings.

    He said the approach would not stop members of the militant Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) from attacking on oil facilities.

    The former IYC chief urged the Federal Government to join hands with the committee to use diplomacy in fishing out the perpetrators.

    Speaking with our reporter in Benin, the Edo State capital, Ekiyor also warned that the current manhunt on former militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), for allegedly masterminding violence in the creeks may be misplaced.

    He urged the Federal Government to examine other options that would not exacerbate the current crisis in the region.

    Ekiyor said: “The military grandstanding in the Niger Delta is worrisome. I think it is more of trade than patriotism. If the military advises their high command properly, they should know that Niger Delta people are homely and welcoming.

    “A bunch of Niger Delta Avengers cannot be equated to the entire Niger Delta people or the entire Ijaw nation. The Ijaw are threatened by the activities of Niger Delta Avengers because when you blow up pipelines, the entire fish and farm products are gone. Our people have to depend on iced fish from Warri and pure water form Warri. Those people in the creeks are victims. Besides, when the Joint Task Force (JTF) people come, they will secure only the pipelines and deal with the people, saying they are the Avengers. No Avenger will blow up a pipeline and sit in the community, waiting for you.

    “So, the government needs to reorganise its military to reflect a people-friendly military, gather intelligence and prosecute the right people. Experience has also shown that the network of pipelines in the Niger Delta cannot be policed by this gun-wielding approach. It has to be policed by a diplomatic call, committed understanding by a people who are ready to do it as a family.”

    On the belief that Tompolo may be behind the renewed Niger Delta militancy, Ekiyor said: “Some people think Tompolo is behind this. But if he was behind it, he would put a face to it. He would not be cowardly enough to hide under pseudo names; his media show will be different from this. I knew when he was in charge of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND). They would actually tell you the time and date they will hit a facility and they would tell the JTF to go and wait for them. Yet, they would hit the facility. They were that organised. That was seven years back.

    “For those of us who understand the terrain, Tompolo may necessarily not be involved in what is happening, but aggrieved persons will be. But some people are unknown to us. That is why we went to the creeks.

    “We were basically struggling to win the confidence of those elements and asking government to create a platform for discussion. Nobody knew MEND until we confronted them in the creeks.

    “But I believe that if the government allows and creates an enabling environment for trust, which is the core issue that does not exist, whoever these Avengers are will come out. The government should engage them and whatever their demands, government should accept or reject. The issue of policy trust is key; the government should retrace its steps.”

  • The Avengers’ angst

    OF all things, militancy should be the last to occupy our minds right now; but it has crept back stealthily to the front burner. Many thought that it was dead and buried following the amnesty granted militants by the Yar’Adua administration in 2009. Under the deal, those who renounced militancy and surrendered their weapons were granted amnesty and rehabilitated by the government. The ‘men’, that is the leaders, were said to have been given a huge sum of money to give up their weapons; the ‘boys’, that is the foot soldiers, were taken to camps for deradicalisation.

    In the camps, they were paid stipends and taught handcrafts. Many were taken abroad for further training, with the government spending millions of dollars on them. The amnesty deal was, however, not embraced by all militants’ leaders. Dokubo Asari of the Niger Delta People Salvation Front (NDPSF) remains a known critic of the programme. Asari has also never hidden his disdain for the North, which he believes is responsible for the despoiling of the Niger Delta. The region is oil rich, but its people are the flotsam and the jetsam of the earth.

    The Niger Delta environment is not conducive today because of the operations of oil companies. They have messed up the waters and the farms from which the people derive their living without giving them anything in return. Rather than come to the people’s aid, successive administrations were believed to be in cahoots with these foreign firms to deprive the oil-producing communities of what rightly belongs to them. It was to call attention to their people’s plight that environmental activists like the late Ken Saro-Wiwa sprang up. But with the death of Saro-Wiwa and the likes of the late Isaac Adaka Boro before him, the agitation took a militant hue.

    Militancy changed the face of the fight because it became what the agitators could get from the struggle and not what could be done for the larger community. Militants resorted to kidnapping for money and blowing up oil facilities, which are the nation’s assets. As things stand now, it seems it is bye bye to amnesty, with the sudden emergence of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), starting the fight all over again. It is not that the fight had been settled; no, not all; but, at least,  the country was making headway in resolving it through the amnesty initiative. The Avengers, only they know what they are avenging, have thrown a spanner in the works, with their ill-motivated action.

    There is more to the resurgence of militancy in the Niger Delta than meets the eye. There is no threat to the region’s interests for now to warrant what the Avengers are doing, except if they are executing a hidden agenda. The militants may not be happy that the region has lost power at the centre and may be doing all this to rattle the Buhari administration to draw constant attention to the place. The Avengers are surely not fighting for former President Goodluck Jonathan, but fighting to keep what they were getting under him, which may no longer come to them, with Buhari at the helms. We were warned of this day long ago by Asari, but we did not take heed of what he was saying then.

    Shortly after the last presidential election, which Jonathan lost to Buhari, Asari rambled about the Niger Delta ideology at the gathering of the Ijaw for the 2015 yearly Isaac Adaka Boro public event. He was bitter that Jonathan had lost the election and without mincing words, he said his people would ‘’resume our struggle if Buhari draws the first blood’’. Asari forgot that Buhari was not elected to shed blood, but to preserve it. In the heat of the moment, he spoke the minds of his people on that occasion, threatening fire and brimstone, all because their son lost an election.

    Asari said : ‘’Yes, a new government begins in Nigeria and a new phase of our struggle shall begin also. The Jonathan presidency was like a restraining order; now that restraint is lifted. However, we will watch and wait; let them draw the first blood and we shall determine our best way forward. Truly, Nigeria will never be the same again; the future is pregnant’’. Is NDA the product of that pregnancy? Asari should tell us because a rabbit does not run in the daytime for nothing. The Avengers are dancing to the drumbeats of some people, but we do not know where these people are. Asari may know for him to have spoken the way he did last year.

    Using strong words to the delight of his fellow Ijaw, he went on : ‘’Should Buhari whom like Pharaoh has determined in his heart to turn desolate the Niger Delta draw the first blood by undermining certain interests of the region, then begin the systemic arrest, maiming and murder of our comrades, continue the confiscation of our rights for self determination and treat the region as a conquered region then it may be honourable for some of us to die in prison or on the field of war as nobody is afraid of him’’. Long before Buhari assumed office, the Niger Delta people seemed to have resolved to give him a tough time because of the fear of the unknown. Whatever gave them the impression that the president would come with an agenda to decimate them only God knows.

    Or are they trying to do to Buhari what Boko Haram did under Jonathan? Of what use will that be? Were they told that the president was Boko Haram’s sponsor? This shows how shallow their thinking is. The Avengers are having a field day destroying our commonwealth in these hard times and even daring the military to a fight. Those who know them should call them to order now because by the time the military takes them on, the story will be different. We all have our grievances against the system, but they cannot be addressed through violence. The earlier the Avengers appreciate this fact the better for them and their backers.

     

  • Niger Delta Avengers: Proposed peace talk splits IYC

    Niger Delta Avengers: Proposed peace talk splits IYC

    •Buhari urged to beware of Niger Delta politicians

    Efforts by the Federal Government to end militancy in Niger Delta have led to a crisis in the popular Ijaw youths’ body, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide.

    It was gathered that some people in the Presidency attempted to engage the Udengs Eradiri-led IYC to persuade the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) to embrace dialogue and stop the destruction of pipelines and other oil installations in the region.

    The IYC was reportedly contacted because of the belief that the NDA, which had restricted its nefarious activities to Delta and Bayelsa states, was dominated by disgruntled Ijaw youths.

    Following its closeness to Ijaw youths, the leadership of the IYC was to be provided with logistics to move into the creeks and prevail on Avengers members to surrender their weapons.

    But it was learnt that some “powerful” politicians in the region were against engaging the IYC leadership.

    They were said to have accused its President, Eradiri, as well as most members of his council, of supporting the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The opposition against Eradiri reportedly led to the division of the council’s National Executive Committee (NEC) along political lines.

    The forces were said to be behind the circulation of a document purportedly suspending Eradiri and the council’s spokesman, Mr. Eric Omare.

    Those who signed the documents are: the National Secretary-General, Bristol-Alagbariye Emmanuel; Director of Mobilisation, Wisdom Ikuli; Legal Adviser, Ekine Egberekro; Assistant Secretary, Deinkoro George; National Women Leader, Felicia Ngeri and Financial Secretary, Kemepado Alfred.

    But Deinkoro, who is the Assistant Secretary, denied being among the signatories to the document.

    The IYC Mobile Parliament (IMP), which is saddled with sanctioning erring council members, in its statement by Omare, described the suspension document as null and void because it did not follow due process.

    An executive member of the council, who gave a background into the crisis, said some people were playing politics with the crisis in the region for their pecuniary benefits.

    The source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The Federal Government believes that Eradiri, being the President of IYC and because of his consistent character, can help in resolving the crisis.

    “But some politicians in the region had already classified him a PDP member and even refer to him as an Avenger, just to dissuade the government from engaging him. They have started politicising the crisis. That is unfortunate.”

    Contacted, Eradiri confirmed the development and urged President Muhammadu Buhari to be wary of some Niger Delta leaders around him.

    The IYC chief admitted attending a security meeting where the issues were discussed, adding that he told the conveners “the hard truth”.

    He said: “At a meeting I attended, I made it clear to security agencies that Niger Deltans, who are around the President, are the problem of President Buhari and that the President should be wary of the ‘clowns’ around him.

    “Didn’t you see? They were in a meeting, talking about the money spent on the Avengers. But the following day, they blew up installations. The same way they deceived (former President) Goodluck Jonathan that they were going to negotiate with $40 million, but were eating fat in the process.

    “These same hawks are around President Buhari. If he wants to engage, he must reach out to the stakeholders. I also told security agencies that these persons are not representing the Niger Delta.

    “You are talking to somebody who claims he is representing the region and they are blowing up pipelines. Is it not an embarrassment to the government? They are not happy that the truth is said because they have been deceiving the President all this while.”

    Hailing the President for promising to engage stakeholders in his May 29 national broadcast, Eradiri urged President Buhari to lead the resolution of the insurgency in the region.

    The IYC chief said the President should toe the paths of his predecessors, like former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Jonathan, on how they handled the Niger Delta crisis.

    He said: “But we are surprised that the President has not woken up to take the bull by the horn. We are asking him to take the driving seat because the problems of Nigeria go beyond an avenger.

    “It needs the President to take some of the decisions by himself. He needs to hear from the people and he will be amazed that people around him are not representing him well. We give him the benefit of the doubt.”

     

     

     

    Eradiri added that the IYC remained an apolitical organisation with commitment to protect and defend the Ijaw national interests.

    He said: “The IYC is an apolitical organisation but individuals have party affiliations. I have tried as much as possible to maintain an apolitical front without allowing party issues to creep into the IYC.

    “But certain individuals don’t understand the positions they hold and may want to use their parties to destabilise what the Ijaw nation is doing.

    “The IYC represents the Ijaw nation. When you come to the IYC, you drop your political toga and deal with issues that concern the Ijaw nation. There might be some political manipulations but we will do everything possible to insulate this organisation.”

     

  • Ex-militants urge Tompolo, Avengers to surrender

    Ex-militants urge Tompolo, Avengers to surrender

    The Niger Delta Liberation Force (NDLF), the defunct militia group led by the late John Togo, has urged the embattled former militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), to surrender himself to the Federal Government.

    The group also Urged the rampaging Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) to call off their campaigns and accept dialogue as nobody can successfully fight government.

    In a statement circulated in Warri by the NDLF spokesman, Captain Mark Anthony, yesterday, the group described destruction of oil and gas facilities as criminal, noting that those involved in the current campaign were fighting a selfish course, aimed at protecting a failed business empire.

    The group urged the armed forces to be responsible in their conduct in the ongoing operations in the communities, recalling the level of destruction and killing which followed its campaigns in Ayakoromor in time past.

    “We are appealing to members of the Niger Delta Avengers to surrender and accept the part of dialogue. No group or individual can fight federal Government. We also appeal to Tompolo to surrender himself to the authorities on the part of peace to reign in Gbaramatu communities and parts of Niger Delta.

    “We NDLF have staged FG and untill today, we are still nursing our wounds. We also appeal to FG to employ internationally accepted military practices in Niger Delta. We could recalled during our experience, you guys (soldiers) bombed and burned Ayakoromor and killed several innocent persons.

    “Similar genocide is about to take place now, if caution is thrown into the wind on both parties. We repeat resolve once again, pipeline bombers are criminals, fighting a selfish course over failed business empire with the present administration under President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “We will always support Biuhari’s administration to succeed just as we supported former President Goodluck Jonathan,” the statement said.

     

     

  • Troops arrest ‘Niger Delta Avengers men’

    Troops arrest ‘Niger Delta Avengers men’

    Ten suspected members of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) – the group of militants smashing oil facilities in the Niger Delta – have been arrested in Delta State.

    Besides, a military patrol team prevented some gunmen believed to be its members from attacking pipelines in Bayelsa State.

    The Army yesterday paraded the 10 suspects in Benin, the Edo State capital, yesterday.

    The suspects were arrested at about 1:40am on Saturday in Oporaza community, Warri South-West Local Government Area, following a cordon-and-search operation conducted in the community.

    The 4 Brigade Commander, Brig. –Gen. Farouk Yahaya, who paraded the suspects, explained that there had been several cases of sabotage by suspected militants and vandals in Delta State since January 1,  and warning and threats “to shut down all operations” in the sector.

    He listed the arms and ammunition recovered from the suspects as: 28 detonator cords (also known Detonator 33), one pistol, two empty pistol magazines, 196 rounds of 7.62 special ammunition, one round of nine-millimetre ammunition, a live cartridge and five daggers.

    Also recovered were 15 handheld radio sets, 18 phones, 203 SIM cards belonging to three major network providers, five swimsuits, two headlamps, a laptop, two ipads and a camera.

    There were also seven wraps of substances suspected to be hemp, five speedboat throttle cables, six pairs of hand gloves, N23,000 cash and a cheque book.

    Gen. Yahaya said that although investigation would reveal the true identity of the suspects, recent explosions carried out by the Niger Delta Avengers suggested that the suspects may not be unconnected to the group.

    He added: “Within the period under review, you can see that the Niger Delta Avengers have claimed virtually all acts of criminal activities against oil and gas and they continue threatening a shutdown of the whole sector. So, most likely, they (suspects) will be the people; who else would they be?”

    On the speculation that the militants may have used charms to evade arrest, Gen. Yahaya said: “Whatever a person wants to use, he can use it. But I know that God is always on the side of the truth.

    “We are not worried by voodoo. It did not stop the suspects from being arrested and others that have been arrested before now.

    “Operations that led to these arrests and recoveries were conducted professionally, guided by our mandate, operation orders, code of conduct and rules of engagement. Our operations are strictly targeted against perpetrators of all criminal acts in our area of responsibility and not innocent citizens,” he added.

    The brigade commander, who noted that the suspects would be handed over to prosecuting security agencies at the end of the preliminary investigation, however, urged the public to provide the Army with information the militants.

    The Army said its troops yesterday averted attacks on oil pipelines located at Gulobokri and Eweleso communities in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

    The acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, confirmed this in a statement.

    Col. Usman said the attack was averted by the troops on patrol of areas around Brass.

    According to him, the patrol team had an encounter with some militants in two speed boats with intent to blow up the Nigerian Agip Oil Company pipeline at Gulobokri.

    “In the early hours of today, May 29, troops of 343 Artillery Regiment of 2 Brigade, 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, carried out patrol within the general area of Gulobokri and Eweleso.

    ‘’This was around Brass area in Bayelsa State.

    “The troops encountered some armed militants who opened fire on the patrol team.

    “The troops responded with overwhelming superior firepower and as a result, the suspected criminals sped off from the area with many of them sustaining gunshot wounds.

    “Unfortunately, a personnel of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) attached to the team sustained gunshot wound and has since been evacuated and he is in a stable condition,’’ Col. Usman said.

    He also said that another patrol team of the same unit of 82 Division, averted another attack on an oil facility at Perigbene House Boat in Bayelsa.

    He said the troops on patrol to the area encountered militants in three speed boats, also on a mission to attack another critical infrastructure in the area.

    Col. Usman said the troops killed most of the militants while others escaped with gunshot injuries.

    He said the casualty figure on militants could not be ascertained as it was raining heavily, adding that the raging storm could not allow troops to go on in pursuit of the escaping criminals.

    Col. Usman added that a mop-up operation had been organised for those militants who escaped with gunshot wounds, adding that they might be receiving treatment in the neighbouring communities.

    He said troops would continue to intensify patrols in the area to further halt planned attacks on key public infrastructure in the area.

    The Federal Government and ex-militants have resolved to end the ongoing pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta.ý

    Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh, the Special Adviser to the President on Niger-Delta Matters and Coordinator of the Amnesty Programme, broke the end of a meeting he had with some ex-militants in Benin.

    Boro told reporters that the pipeline vandalism in the Niger-Delta was reducing the economic fortune of the country and inflicting pains on Nigerians.

    He urged the agitators to dialogue with the authorities over their grievances and shun destruction of oil installations.

    He said plans were in the pipeline to provide the ex-militants with welfare and a housing scheme in addition to the existing programme and projects.

  • Tompolo denies Avengers

    Tompolo denies Avengers

    Ex-militant leader Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo),has appealed to the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) militant group to halt attacks on oil installations in order to avert disaster in the region.

    He said in a statement: “If truly as you (NDA) claimed that you are fighting for the well-being of the people of the Niger Delta, then you must adhere to this appeal, otherwise, the world will label you as criminals,” he added.

    Tompolo, who is accused of masterminding the attacks in exchange for a soft-landing in his corruption trial by the EFCC, for the umpteenth time, denied the allegation and expressed confidence on the ability of his legal team to argue his case.

    He warned the militants on the consequences of attacks on key oil and gas assets, stressing that the Federal Government was willing to crush any obstacle to unhindered flow of oil in the region.

    The former MEND leader’s warning is the heels of threat by the militant group to carry out an attack that will “shake the whole world.”

    He said, “One thing you (NDA) should know is that government is not interested in its constitutional duty of protection of lives and the welfare of its citizens, rather it is interested in the continues flow of crude oil in the region, therefore it could do anything to make the oil flow, not minding the security and the welfare of the people.

    “Come to think of the consequences of your actions in the region so far, particularly as it affects me and the people of Gbaramatu kingdom. Just yesterday, the Nigerian Army invaded the ancestral headquarters of the kingdom, Oporoza town, under the guise of looking for members of your group, particularly me, who they have wickedly linked to your group, and unleashed mayhem on the innocent people of the community.

    “And this happened in my absence as I am currently out of Gbaramatu kingdom, but what I gathered from some of the victims of the army invasion is unspeakable. Even pots of soup where not spared.

    “The Army has massively looted residents’ homes, desecrated traditional places of worship, committed sacrileges, abominations and what have you. The army has continued to occupy the community till this moment.

    “One other reason you guys must stop this new campaign of destruction is that the contractors in charge of repair works of attacked pipelines are equally culpable in the act of pipeline vandalism as they now sponsor their allays in the communities to continue to destroy pipelines to get more repair works. This is the sorry state we have found ourselves in the Niger Delta.

    “To this end dear Niger Delta Avengers, you must put an end to this economic sabotage and allow the government to look into your demands now. I believe a word is enough for the wise,” he added.

    Speaking on his corruption trial by the EFCC, Tompolo reiterated his pledge not to resort to violence and and bombing of oil pipelines, stressing that his “team of lawyers have already challenged the defective process of legal service on me in the Court of Appeal. I am a man of truth and peace, therefore will not be involved in violent activities.

    “That notwithstanding, for the love of country and out of patriotism, I wish to appeal to you once again to stop the bombing of oil facilities in the Niger Delta region, and embrace the path of dialogue with the Federal Government of Nigeria, as the government is ready to hear you out on whatever issues you wish to discuss with it.”

  • Bayelsa: ‘Avengers’ hit two pipelines

    Bayelsa: ‘Avengers’ hit two pipelines

    •Army combs Delta, arrests seven, seizes explosives, arms

    Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) yesterday launched into a gun battle with members of the militant group, Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), in the creeks of Bayelsa State in the aftermath of twin blasts by the militants on two pipelines belonging to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and Aiteo.

    Simultaneouly, soldiers laid siege to Oporoza community, Warri South-West council area of Delta State, suspected to be the hideout of wanted ex-militant, Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo.

    The troops arrested seven suspects and recovered explosives, arms and ammunition.

    There is suspicion in security circles that the NDA is working for Tompolo who has repeatedly denied the claim.

    Attacked at 2.15am yesterday were Nembe 1, 2 and 3 Brass to Bonny Trunk lines belonging to Aiteo, the latest by the group on targets in the oil and gas sector of the economy.

    Aiteo acquired the 100kn Nembe trunk line from Shell Production Development Company (SPDC) in 2014 but Shell still uses it to convey crude to its Bonny Export Terminal.

    The militants, who accessed the locations of the pipelines in speedboats, reportedly blew up the trunk lines with the aid of dynamites.

    A civil defence operative said that after the onslaught, the militants laid ambush around the area apparently to stop security operatives from accessing the crime scene.

    He said: “There were two blasts on Agip pipeline, one from Tebedeba to Brass. It happened opposite Orubiri community in Nembe. The other blast happened in Legosgbene in Southern Ijaw.

    “As I am talking to you now, our team has advanced to the Legosgbene. The perpetrators are laying ambush. We have been exchanging gunfire with them to be able to reach the site of the incident to see exactly what happened.

    “Our team is also advancing to Orubiri in Nembe with support from the army to ascertain the extent of the damage. Only the team from Nembe is being assisted by the army. For the Southern Ijaw, it is only the civil defence team that is advancing.”

    The State Commandant, NSCDC, Mr. Desmond Agu, confirmed the incident and said the militants were exchanging gunfire with his men at Southern Ijaw.

    He said: “We have deployed two teams to the two different locations where Agip pipelines were attacked in the state. Our team heading for the Southern Ijaw location discovered that the militants laid an ambush in the area. We will soon clear the area and ascertain the extent of damage done to the pipeline”.

    The Avengers claimed responsibility for the attacks on its Twitter handle.

    It said: “At about 2:15am on Saturday, avengers blew up Nembe 1, 2, 3 Brass to Bonny Trunk line belonging to Agip and Shell.”

    The Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre (JMCC) of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield, Col. Isa Ado, could not be reached to respond to enquiries on the violence.

    There are fears in the state that the renewed wave of attacks on oil installation could worsen the economy of state.

    Civil servants are owed salaries for several months on account of the drop in its earnings from the federation account. The government however, condemned yesterday’s attacks by the militants.

    Information Commissioner, Jonathan Obuebite, in an online statement lamented the impact of the destruction of the key oil facilities on the state and wondered why the militants would disregard the economy of the state to attack pipelines.

    He observed that despite the concerted efforts of the government to move against such atrocities, the militants were still unrepentant in their acts of vandalism.

    Obuebite urged the group to make their grievances known to the appropriate authorities through dialogue rather than resorting to violence.

    He noted that the activities of the group were adversely affecting Ijaw people whose only source of livelihood is the environment.

    The Commissioner also called on security agents to be at alert and devise other means to protect very important oil and gas facilities to forestall further destructions

    Obuebite also urged Bayelsa residents, especially persons residing in oil-bearing communities to be very vigilant and work closely with security agents to apprehend anyone or group attempting to undermine key national assets.

    The Avengers repeated their threat which they first issued on Friday after a previous attack in Delta State that “Something Big is about to happen.”

    Shell declared force majeure on Bonny Light loadings after a previous attack on the Nembe creek trunk pipeline, but some exports had been continuing with delays caused by repair work.

    Armed troops yesterday stormed Oporozo in Delta State in their search for Tompolo who is wanted in connection with corrupt charges.

    The Nation gathered that men of the Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation Pulo Shield stormed the community at about 2:30am, arresting seven people.

    They also seized some explosives, arms and ammunition.

    Sources said that an earlier raid on Friday had led to the arrest of a man suspected to be one of those carrying out the attacks on oil and gas facilities in the state.

    He was reportedly handed over to the Navy and was subsequently flown to Abuja for interrogation.

    Several sources in the Ijaw community accused the troops of brutalizing residents including women and children.

    A community source, who did not want to be named said it was an operation on ‘Tompolo’s location’, adding that he learnt arrests were made, but was not sure if the ex-militant leader, who has been in a running battle with the federal government, was one of those arrested.

    “There was an attack on Tompolo’s location and arrests were made. Not specifically Oporoza, but where Tompolo is suspected to be hiding. Whether he was part of those arrested is what we don’t know”, he said.

    Although, all efforts to get official military confirmation were unsuccessful, a reliable military source in Delta confirmed that seven suspects were arrested in the midnight operation, adding that recovery of explosives, arms and ammunition were also made.

    “The operation is ongoing, seven already arrested, explosives they use in detonating, arms and ammunition was recovered. I won’t say the exact point where operations are happening for now, but we are around the villages to recover all the explosives, equipments used in blowing pipelines and, if possible, arrest all the culprits,” the source said.

    The Commander of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta, Commodore Raimi Mohammed, said he was not aware of the operation and the spokesman of the JTF, Colonel Isa Ado, did not pick call or respond to text messages sent to him.

  • We ’ll shock the world soon, say Avengers as militants hit oil facility again

    We ’ll shock the world soon, say Avengers as militants hit oil facility again

    The Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) has destroyed a pipeline belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) close to the Batan community, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State in its latest assault on the economy.

     It threatened  to carry out a bigger   attack that  ”will shock the whole world,” and  said it had no interest in dialoguing with government.

    The group in a  tweet after the Thursday night attack said: “At 11:45pm on Thursday, @NDAvengers blew up other #NNPC gas and crude trunkline close to Warri. Pipeline that was heavily guarded by military.”

     In another tweet,it said:”The Niger Delta Stakeholders’ meeting is an insult to the people of the Niger Delta. What we need is a sovereign state, not pipeline contracts. To IOCs, indigenous oil companies and the Nigerian military:  watch out, something big is about to happen, and it will shock the whole world.”

    Two stakeholders in the area, an environmental activist, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, and the spokesperson of the Ijaw Youths Congress (IYC), Eric Omare, confirmed the development.

    “There was an explosion about 11:15pm, but we have not been able to ascertain the exact point. It was around this area. We have two pieces of information. One says it was around Bennet Island, the other says it was Batan. We need to be very concrete with our information”, Mulade said.

    But Omare said: “It was at the back of Batan, Warri South-West. I think the facility should belong to the NNPC”.

    Although there was no official security confirmation of the incident, as none of the top security operatives who could make comments on it were unavailable, a reliable senior naval officer confirmed that an explosion had been recorded close to the Egwa 1 area which is the oil field the Batan community belongs to.

    The insurgent group, which has in recent times cost Nigeria’s crude oil output and gas production huge losses, yesterday threatened more devious actions and rejected dialogue in tweeted message.

    The Batan attack came on the heels of Thursday’s attack by the group on Chevron’s Abiteye line in the Warri South West Local Government Area ,Delta State which has grounded the multinational company’s entire swamp operations in the state. .

    Claiming responsibility for that attack, the NDA tweeted: “We warned Chevron,but they didn’t listen.@NDAvengers just blew up the Escravos tank farm main electricity feed pipeline”.

    The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr.Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, said on Thursday that the amnesty programme for former militants, signed in 2009 to end a previous insurgency, needed to improve.

    A committee set up by the  Delta State leaders warned on Thursday that a military approach would not work and saw “an apparent consensus that the federal government and oil companies have neglected the grievances of local communities”.

    Nigeria is now producing less than 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd), less than Angola and well below the 2.2 million bpd assumed in the 2016 state budget.

  • Armed Forces set for war against Avengers

    Armed Forces set for war against Avengers

    The military and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) are partnering to tackle militancy in the crude oil and gas-rich region, especially bombing of pipelines and other oil installations by fighters of a militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).

    NDA members started the bombings in Delta State and moved to neighbouring Bayelsa State, with a threat that they would soon move to Rivers State and other parts of the Niger Delta, which the military is not taking lightly.

    A former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Chief Government Ekpemupolo, aka Tompolo, was accused of being behind the NDA and fresh bombings, in spite of the Federal Government’s 2009 amnesty offer to repentant Niger Delta militants, which he denied.

    It was also insinuated that some supporters of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, an indigene of Otuoke in Ogba Local Government Area of Bayelsa State were behind the NDA to destabilise the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, which was equally denied.

    The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, however, declared that the military would go after the members of the militant group, vowing to deal with the situation appropriately.

    Olonisakin made the declaration on May 23 at Ogoloma Jetty, Okrika, the headquarters of Okrika LGA of Rivers state, while speaking with reporters, after inaugurating twelve gunboats, refurbished by NDDC, for use by the Brigade Gunboats’ Company  and forty-bed accommodation, to serve the Forward Operation Base (FOB) of the Nigerian Army, also at Ogoloma Jetty in Okrika.

    The chief of defence staff was accompanied by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai; the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar; the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 82 Division, Enugu, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru; and the Commander of 2 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Brig.-Gen. Steve Olabanji; among others.

    Olonisakin also expressed gratitude to NDDC, which has Mrs. Ibim Semenitari as the Managing Director, for providing resources to refurbish the gunboats, which he noted would assist the military troops in discharging their duties effectively on the waterways.

    Semenitari, a former Rivers Commissioner for Information and Communications, was represented on the occasion by NDDC’s Director of Administration, Nosa Agbongiasede.

    The chief of defence staff, while commenting on the bombing of pipelines by Niger Delta Avengers, said: “Issue of this nature is multi-facet. Not just the military approach. The government is exploring all other approaches to ensure that these issues are resolved.   Military is looking at ways to resolve the issue of these bombings.

    “We, the military, have told them (Niger Delta Avengers) this is not in the interest of the nation. When you bomb those facilities, those critical infrastructure, you are destroying our assets, our resources, as a nation. This is not the way to address your grievances. If you have any grievances, you put them appropriately to the government.

    “Of course, we cannot allow people to sabotage and destroy critical infrastructure. We will go after them (Niger Delta Avengers) and ensure that we deal with the situation appropriately.”

    Olonisakin, in his speech at the inauguration of the gunboats, stated that Nigeria was challenged by multi-faceted threats.

    The chief of defence staff noted that no nation’s military could have all the platforms it desired, stressing that with the current economic downturn and limited financial resources that had been affecting many nations, including Nigeria, the need for prudent management of available resources became more apparent.

    Olonisakin stated that the repair of the gunboats would no doubt improve the capacity of the brigade to meet its responsibility in curtailing criminal acts in the nation’s inland waterways, while lauding the NDDC for making refurbishing of the gunboats realisable.

    The GOC, 82 Division, Enugu, in his welcome address, stated that the “historic” event marked a turning point in the activities of the army formation, which he said would impact positively in the overall conduct of military operations in the division’s areas of responsibility.

    The GOC, 82 Division, Enugu, said: “We can only achieve professionalism, if the necessary equipment are operational. The gunboats have no doubt gulped enormous resources. The refurbishing of the gunboats would not have been possible, without the visionary guidance and direction of the Chief of Army Staff and the support of the NDDC.”

    Olonisakin, in company with other service chiefs, later on May 23, visited the Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike, at the Government House, Port Harcourt.

    The Rivers governor said Niger Delta governors were opposed to the use of violence to settle grievances, revealing that the governors were billed to meet with the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on June 7, to discuss and proffer solutions to the security situation in the Niger Delta.

    The chief of army staff, in the evening of May 23, in an interview with reporters at the 2 Brigade, Port Harcourt, after the inauguration of soldiers’ accommodation and 500 KVA generator, donated by the NDDC, described members of the Niger Delta Avengers, as criminals.

    Buratai said: “Whatever these criminals (Niger Delta Avengers) are doing is a criminal act. We will deal with them accordingly.

    “Nobody has offended them (Niger Delta Avengers).They have been attacking our troops’ locations and killing our soldiers. We will not tolerate that.”

    End must quickly be brought to the sabotage by Niger Delta militants, while their sponsors must stop forthwith or be made to face the law. A word is enough for the wise.

  • Avengers are criminals, says Buratai

    Avengers are criminals, says Buratai

    Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai has described members of the Niger Delta Avengers as criminals.

    Gen. Buratai admonished the communities to expose Niger Delta Avengers members who have been bombing pipelines and other oil installations.

    The army chief spoke on Monday night in an interview with reporters at the 2 Brigade, Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, after the inauguration of soldiers’ accommodation and 500 KVA generator, donated by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    Gen. Buratai was accompanied by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division, Enugu, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru and the Commander of 2 Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Steve Olabanji; among other top army officers.

    He said: “Whatever these criminals (Niger Delta Avengers) are doing is a criminal act. We will deal with them accordingly. We are looking at all the areas that we should address and we are doing that, including the criminals in the name of Niger Delta Avengers. They are not avenging anything. They are criminals.

    “Nobody has offended them  (Niger Delta Avengers). They have their own criminal intentions and we will deal with them accordingly. They have been attacking our troops’ locations and killing our soldiers. We will not tolerate that. We will deal with them accordingly, according to the law.

    “We will look for them (Niger Delta Avengers), wherever they are. That is how we will treat them. They are not agitating for any enclave or any state. They are just committing criminal acts. That is how we see it.”

    Gen. Buratai urged the peace-loving people to expose the criminals in their midst, who are destroying national assets and attacking troops.

    He said: “They (Niger Delta people) must be patriotic enough to come out. I want to assure them that they have nothing to fear, once they perform their basic civic responsibilities.

    “Everybody in the Niger Delta and indeed across the country should expose these criminals, who come out to destroy national assets and also to attack military personnel who are doing their lawful duties in their areas.”