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Tag: Niger Delta Avengers (NDA)

  • Avengers are within your government, IYC tells Buhari

    Avengers are within your government, IYC tells Buhari

    • Says Lagos militants, avengers are not Ijaw people

    The umbrella body of Ijaw youths, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Worldwide, on Thursday, told President Muhammadu Buhari that members of the militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) were within his government.

    The President of IYC, Mr. Udengs Eradiri, who briefed the press at the Headquarters of the council in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, also lamented constant linkage of avengers and criminals in Lagos State to Ijaw people.

    Eradiri advised President Buhari to begin the search for avengers within his government insisting that members of the militant group were in Aso Rock villa.

    He wondered why the military was laying siege in Gbaramatu Kingdom for members of NDA whom he said were not in the community.

    He said: “Why are they always quick to attack our communities. Gbaramatu is not the headquarters of avengers. It does not habour any avenger. Do you think that the community people are happy that they are under siege and cannot go about their normal duties?

    “The more they are doing this thing, the more Ijaw people will begin to come together and we will never be divided. The government should stop harassing our people.

    “The NDA is within them. They know themselves. They are blocking the President left, right and centre so that he would not see them. The NDA is with him and his people there”.

    Eradiri also insisted that the Ijaw people were not behind the violent attacks on communities in Lagos and Ogun states by militants regretting that some people deliberately ascribed such criminalities to Ijaw to cause ethnic war between Ijaw and their Yoruba neighbours.

    He asked the security agencies to do their job by flushing out the perpetrators of Lagos violence and stop making public statements that could create ethnic tension.

    He said: “There are some groups in Lagos engaged in criminal activities and those activities are now threatening the brotherly relationship our people have enjoyed in Lagos.

    “First, Nigeria should stop ascribing anything that happened in the Niger Delta to Ijaw people. For the avoidance of doubt, Niger Delta Avengers are not Ijaw people. I am tired of answering questions about Niger Delta Avengers.

    “I am the President of the Ijaw Youth Council. I am not the President of NDA. NDA are not Ijaw people. We don’t know who Niger Delta Avengers are. If the security agencies know avengers, they should arrest them. They should do their jobs.

    “They should stop transferring their jobs to community leaders or youth Organisations or leaders of ethnic nationalities. Their duty is to maintain law and order, to gather intelligence and do whatever they deem fit to ensure that there is peace in the country.

    “Please stop ascribing negative things to Ijaw people. We are the fourth largest ethnic nationalities in Nigeria and I agree that we are the people who refuse to eat sand and call it food. But that does not mean that every little thing that happens in the region will be ascribed to Ijaw people”.

    Eradiri said the Lagos issue has assumed a worrisome dimension adding that all the criminal activities in communities hosting the Arepo Atlas Cove pipelines in Lagos and Ogun States were being perpetrated by thieves who were out to enrich themselves.

    He said there is widespread economic crimes along pipelines in the country and that the Lagos scenario involved people from all the ethnic groups.

    He said: “So, Nigerians should stop ascribing it to Ijaw people. Ijaw people are peace-loving people. For over hundreds of years, our people have cohabited with other ethnic nationalities. We have never been known to be hostile people.

    “We sympathise with families that have lost their lives especially during the Ogun-Arepo crisis. As much as our hearts grieve with the affected families, we want to say that the aggressors are not Ijaw people. They are common criminals who are stealing refined products for economic reasons.

    “Therefore, the police and other security agencies that are sustained by taxpayers money should go and do their job. It beats our imagination when a police commissioner will stand up publicly to ascribe such crimes to ethnic nationality.

    “However, whichever way we can assist to resolve the issues in Lagos, we are willing to support. But the problem is snowballing into crisis between Ijaws and Yorubas and that is why we are concerned.

    “We will not support any negative thing that will be done to destabilise Lagos and its environs because our people are peaceful and law-abiding. We appeal to the Yoruba community, all those who are fanning the ambers of ethnic crisis should stop it. There are some individuals who are behind it and any little thing that happens they want to ascribe it.

    “This is just to build bad blood against our people. The government should be very vigilant because just on Wednesday, properties of the Ijaws were destroyed within the outskirts of Lagos because of media propaganda against our ethnic nationality”.

    He added: “We appeal to the Yoruba people; don’t allow yourselves to be used by people because they just want to create conflict. Conflict in Lagos will never help any of us. We still remember the injuries that were inflicted upon both sides during the OPC, Ijaw crisis.

    “Go back and investigate the issues, you will be amazed that one nonsense matter that has no bearing that caused it. Yoruba nation must know that we are their brothers. We share the same aspirations.

    “Ijaws will not sit down and said lets go and destroy Lagos. Lagos share the same terrain with us and we cannot destroy our home because we see Lagos as home.

    “We see Ogun as home. Let’s not be deceived into an unnecessary conflict. The security agencies are to be blamed. They should go and do their jobs. The waterways should be policed properly”.

  • Militants deny talks with FG

    Militants deny talks with FG

    President Muhammadu Buhari’s claim to be in talks with Niger Delta militants, including the notorious Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), has been described as a manifestation of the president’s insincerity, as there had been no established contact yet.

    President Buhari had on Thursday, during a farewell meeting with the outgoing German Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Zinner, said his administration was in talks with the armed insurgents in the Niger Delta, through security agents and oil companies operating in the region.

    But the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), as well as the most vocal of the insurgent groups in the region, NDA, claimed President Buhari’s claim was insincere and aimed at deceiving Nigerians and the international community.

    While the Avengers, in a statement by its spokesman, Mudoch Agbinibo,  denied being in any talks with the federal government, the IYC, in a statement circulated by its spokesman, Eric Omare, expressed at the president’s claim to using foreigners (oil companies) to negotiate on the nation’s behalf.

    The Avengers, in the statement, said it stood by its earlier decision not to be involved in any negotiation with the federal government in any talk that would not involve the international community.

    “Our attention has been drawn to media report that the President is in touch with Niger Delta agitators including the Niger Delta Avengers, but the truth is that we are not aware of any peace talk.

    “If we are to engage in any peace talk we made it clear that the international community must be part of it. The President knows our demands. So they should stop deceiving the international oil companies, the general public and the international community.

    “If there is any such peace talk, it means the President is talking to their mercenaries set to disturb the genuine struggle of the agitators. President Buhari led government is not sincere to the Nigeria people and their foreign allies”, it said.

    IYC, in its statement yesterday, charged the Buhari administration to borrow a leaf from its predecessors and seek an all-encompassing talks with the peoples of the oil-rich region.

    “The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) worldwide says that President Buhari and the federal government of Nigeria should stop deceiving Nigerians and the international community about talks with Niger Delta militants on how to stop attacks on oil facilities in the Niger Delta region.

  • Suspect collapses in court over magistrate’s order

    Suspect collapses in court over magistrate’s order

    There was a melodrama at the Warri South Magistrate Court on Thursday when a suspect, one Smart Etiemor suddenly collapsed over the court’s order to remand him in prisons custody.

    Etiemor had allegedly collaborated with another suspect, Robinson Dagbolo, to write a petition against a clergyman, Bishop Sunny Jero, accusing him of, among other incriminating allegations, sponsoring the notorious Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).

    However, the Chief Magistrate considering their matter, C.I Moeteke, who said his court lacked the jurisdiction to try the accused persons, ordered that they should be remanded at the Okere Prisons, Warri, until August 18, 2016.

    The middle-aged suspects were arraigned on a one-count charge of false accusation, an offence punishable under Section 125 of the Criminal Code Cap c21 of Delta.

    Earlier, the prosecution counsel, ASP Sunny Irabor told the court that the suspects allegedly petitioned the complainant on July 14, 2016 over human trafficking, gun running and sponsoring the Niger Delta Avengers.

    He said that after obtaining a search warrant, the police combed the church and private residence of the Bishop in Warri alongside the suspects adding that nothing incriminating was found.

    At the rising of the court, Jero told newsmen outside the court premises that he and the suspects hailed from Ogboinbri community in Egbema clan in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta.

    ”They wrote a petition against me and police come to search my church and house in the present of the suspects and nothing was incriminating was found, then I was granted bail.

    ”I have to write a petition against them through my lawyer for arresting me illegally, that is why they were arraigned today,” Jero said.

  • Avengers: DSS whisks away local publisher in Bayelsa 

    Avengers: DSS whisks away local publisher in Bayelsa 

    There was confusion in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Thursday, following the whisking away of the publisher of a local tabloid, Weekly Source, Chief James Abiri, by operatives who identified themselves as secret agents from the Department of State Security (DSS).

    Abiri was reportedly handcuffed and taken away from his office in Yenagoa at about 11am by the operatives who carried out the operation in three vehicles.

    His colleagues identified the vehicles’ registration numbers as SAG 391 AA, PBT 480 AA and Lagos 193 DN.

    The armed operatives numbering nine were said to have created panic among the residents following the commando style they effected the arrest.

    They were said to have kept mute refusing to disclose the reason why Abiri was being arrested.

    There were indications that his arrest bordered on reports about the activities of the militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).

    But one of them reportedly said the publisher was needed to answer questions on national security adding that the operation was sanctioned by the headquarters of the DSS in Abuja.

    A source and colleague of Abiri said other local publishers were around the office of Abiri when the fierce-looking and unfriendly secret agents stormed the place.

    The source who spoke in confidence said when the suspicious vehicles arrived the area, Abiri whose office was located upstairs of the building, was at a canteen.

    He said: “When the three vehicles parked, one of the secret agents, came to his office but could not find Abiri. Others were waiting in the vehicles.

    “The operative came to us and said he was looking for the publisher of Weekly Source. We didn’t know he had a pistol. Following they way he inquired about Abiri, we thought he was one of his news sources.

    “We innocently went to call Abiri. But on sighting him, the operative immediately called other operatives who came and handcuffed our colleague. They immediately took him to his office but would not allow anybody to come close to them.

    “They refused to talk to us but one of them later said they came from Abuja to arrest on issues of national security. They ransacked his office, carted away some documents and took Abiri along with them”.

    He said the suspected detectives were anxiously looking for the mobile phone of the journalist but could not find it.

    He said said the operatives initially mistook the office of a popular Yenagoa-based lawyer for Abiri’s office.

    “They had already ransacked and disorganized the office of the lawyer when they noticed it was not Abiri’s office. The lawyer called the police who came, exchanged pleasantries with the secret agents and left. They apparently know them”, the source said.

    It was gathered that the way and manner the operation was conducted made some security operatives working in Yenagoa to think that the journalist had been kidnapped.

    The umbrella body of local publishers in the state, Bayelsa Federated Newspaper Publishers Association (BAFENPA), confirmed the incident.

    The Chairman of BAFENPA, Mr. Easteday Ayibatari, said they went to the offices of all security agencies in the state including the DSS but could not trace his whereabouts.

    He said the DSS in the state said no security agent could come to the state and effect any arrest without notifying the state’s office.

    He said: “We are worried of his whereabouts. We have lodged a complain at the Ekeki Police station, Yenagoa. We have never seen this kind of arrest before”.

    Ayibatari called on the police to carry out thorough investigation to locate the whereabouts of Abiri.

    He said they were further worried over the refusal of the secret agents to properly introduce themselves and show their identity cards.

    But a security agent who spoke in confidence confirmed that Abiri was taken away by the DSS and asked the local publishers to direct their inquiries to the senior officers of the DSS.

     

  • Navy parade two avengers’ suspects, six others

    Navy parade two avengers’ suspects, six others

    The Nigerian Navy on Thursday paraded suspects, including two alleged operatives of the notorious Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), in Warri.

    The new Commander of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta, Commodore Joseph Dzunve, who paraded the suspects told journalists that his command had destroyed some five illegal oil refining sites within two weeks.

    Besides the two suspected Avengers operatives, other suspects paraded included four suspected pipelines vandals, one alleged killer of a naval rating, who was said to have been part of several kidnap cases, and one Navy impersonator.

    Giving details of the involvement of each of the suspects, Commodore Dzunve said the suspects were arrested during different operations. About the alleged Avengers operatives, he said they were arrested with incriminating effects on them when arrested.

    “The person I’m pointing my walking stick at was arrested about a week ago, he’s  suspected to have taken part in the murder of a rating sometime earlier this year. He’s also involved in kidnapping of citizens for ransom.

    “Next to him here the person to his right are buyers of some of these illegal refined products, they were caught when we went for that operation last week. They are also suspected members of the Niger Delta Avengers.

    “This one on my left here is a supplier of equipment they use for the bombing of pipelines, while the one on the right is the mechanic who repairs their boats which they use in conveying the materials whenever they have problems. Further investigation when we hand them over to the prosecuting authorities will reveal the extent to which they partook in those criminal activities”, Dzunve said.

    The two avengers suspects were identified as Prince David Oyafogha (avengers mechanic) and Felix Ebiaedor (avengers supplier) while the suspected kidnapper was identified Ebiye Ozano.

    Ebiaedor, who was reportedly arrested with equipment used for making explosives, like huge amounts of batteries and cables, said he was merely transporting the equipment to Chief Government Ekpemupolo’s guest house in Oporoza for some persons. He said he has been doing this since January.

    “The cables and the batteries are usually brought down to the waterside by Akpos, Rowland and Godbless, whenever they bring them like that they charter the boat and Stanley is the name of the driver. They started early this year, in January. Whenever they bring it, we have a driver that take them down to Oporoza, to the guest house. The guest house belongs to the ex-militant leader, Tompolo”, Ebiaedor revealed.

  • Another pipeline attacked by unknown militants in Warri

    Another pipeline attacked by unknown militants in Warri

    Another crude oil facility, belonging to Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), was reported to have been attacked by suspected insurgents in the early hours of Monday around the Batan area in Warri South-West council area of Delta state.

    The attack, which reportedly created a massive impact on a trunk line around Camp 3 in Batan oil field, was said to have happened at about 12:05am. The Nation gathered crude was still gushing into the surrounding aquatic environment as at the time this report was filed, all efforts of experts to curtail the spill notwithstanding.

    Neither the notorious Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), which had claimed responsibility for most of the attacks in the region, nor any other group had owned yesterday’s development as at the time this report was filed.

    Chairman of Batan community, Dickson Ogugu, when contacted, confirmed the incident while appealing to the militants to halt further hostilities on oil installation in the region especially within the Batan axis.

    When reached for confirmation, the spokesman of the newly constituted military Joint Task Force (JTF), Lieutenant Colonel Olaolu Daudu, said he was going to check and get back with information.

    However, another reliable military source in Warri confirmed there an explosion around the Batan general area, adding “efforts were put in to arrest the perpetrators, but they escaped”.

     

  • Bayelsa elders to Buhari: Your aides frustrating talks with avengers

    Bayelsa elders to Buhari: Your aides frustrating talks with avengers

    Notable elders and traditional rulers from Bayelsa State, Saturday, told President Muhammadu Buhari that some of his aides were frustrating the proposed peace talks between his government and the militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).

    The elders who eulogized the President for taking a decision to lead the dialogue, however, said discordant tunes among presidential aides created doubts in the process.

    They said the avengers became skeptical of the dialogue following signs of deceit, fraud and disharmony among the aides.

    The elders under the auspices of Bayelsa Elders for Progress, Peace and Good Governance (BEPPGG) led by their Coordinator, Chief Ayibatonye Goodnews and ‎Secretary, Chief Lucky Ebifaghe, wondered why attacks on pipelines had continued despite dialogue and ceasefire.

    They alleged that the recent activities of key aides from the region including the Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachichukwu and the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Brig. Gen. Paul Boroh, were frustrating the peace efforts of the Federal Government.

    The concerned elders, in an open letter to the President said: “President Buhari should investigate the genuiness of purported meetings held between the Presidential Amnesty Boss, Paul Boroh and Dr. Ibe Kachichukwu.

    “How can they claim to have met stakeholders and the militant attacks continues? They met some fake militants and stakeholders and wasted scarce resources of the Federal Government on jamboree.

    “The Amnesty Boss,who claimed to have relocated to the creeks of the region was only sighted in Tompolo’s community with cladestine meetings without solution to the continued bombing of the Oil and Gas facilities.

    “Buhari should investigate the money expended on the jamboree without result. We insist that the Presidential Amnesty Office should be probed following the alleged failed sharing of resources to fake avengers.

    “The lack of knowledge on key issues of the region and wrong signals sent to militants ‎along the creeks are frustrating the needed peace process. Many of the purported stakeholders have made money from the self created jamboree in the region. Genuine Niger Delta Stakeholders should be consulted for sustained peace.”

  • Avengers claim responsibility for Bayelsa pipeline attacks

    Avengers claim responsibility for Bayelsa pipeline attacks

    The Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), Friday, claimed responsibility for attacks on Agip pipelines.

    The group in a statement on its website by its Spokesman, Gen. Murdock Aginibo, said its fighters attacked the pipelines between 3am to 5am.

    It identified the attacked pipelines as the Nembe 1, 2, 3 and Tebedaba-Brass trunkline in Bayelsa/River States.

    The group warned the general public of impostors Facebook accounts adding that the Niger Delta Avenger is not on Social network anymore.

    It said: “At about the of 3am to 5am the Niger Delta Avengers blew up Nembe 1, 2, 3 and Tebedaba brass trunk-line in Bayelsa/River States.

    “We are still using this medium to warn the general public of impostors Facebook accounts. Niger Delta Avenger is not on Social network anymore.”

     

  • Military scraps JTF, replaces outfit with ODS

    Military scraps JTF, replaces outfit with ODS

    The Defence Headquarters has scrapped the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield (OPS) in the Niger Delta region.

    The outfit according to a statement signed by the acting Director, Defence Information, Brig-Gen. Rabe Abubakar, has been replaced with Operation Delta Safe (ODS).

    This is the second time the outfit domiciled in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, will undergo reforms and change of name.

    The force which was formed before the Federal Government granted amnesty to ex-militants in the region was then known as Operation Restore Hope (ORS).

    But following the amnesty programme, it was reorganized with a new mandate to protect oil installations under a codename, Operation Pulo (oil) Shield (OPS).

    With the renew militancy and economic terrorism in the region by various militant groups led by the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), it was learnt that the Defence Headquarters reformed, refocused and renamed the outfit ODS.

    The statement by Abubakar said: “The OPERATION PULO SHIELD in Niger Delta has been scrapped with immediate effect and replaced with OPERATION DELTA SAFE.

    “This is in line with the Defence Headquarters initiative to restructure the Joint Task Force for better service delivery, efficiency and effectiveness in line with the vision and mission of the Chief of Defence Staff to contain the current security challenges in the Niger Delta especially protection of critical national assets and provision of security in the area.

    “Under this arrangement, the Joint Operational Areas of the new outfit have been delineated into 3 sectors and 5 Operational Bases covering the entire Niger Delta, Ondo and Akwa Ibom States.  The Headquarters of OPERATION DELTA SAFE would be in Yenagoa.

    “This development, according to Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin becomes expedient in order to inject new tactics and robust operational initiative to tackle the emerging security challenges in the Niger Delta region such as piracy, bunkering, vandalism and other criminalities prevalent in the area”.

     

  • Violence can’t solve Niger Delta problem – Bayelsa elder

    Violence can’t solve Niger Delta problem – Bayelsa elder

    An elder in Bayelsa State and Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Christopher Abarowei, Thursday, said that violence is a major factor militating against the development of the Niger Delta region.

    Abarowei in a statement he sent to The Nation in Yenagoa advised the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) and other aggrieved youths to halt their attacks on pipelines and other oil installations in the region.

    He noted that each time a pipeline is ripped off  the progress and development of the region take a quantum leap backward.

    Abarowei who is the Coordinator, APC Integrity Group (AIG) said the ongoing destruction of pipelines was affecting mainly the economy of the states in the region lamenting that Bayelsa could no longer pay salaries of its workers.

    “It is night time the avengers realized the fact that their activities apart from creating environmental degradation and pollution in the region are also negatively affecting the entire people in the zone making it impossible for a state like Bayelsa to pay salaries,” he said.

    Abarowei wondered why the activities of the avengers were only restricted to Bayelsa and Delta and called on the governors of the two states to assist the Federal Government in finding a lasting solution to the problem.

    While advising youths to champion the course of the region through intellectual engagements, he advised the avengers to embrace the dialogue proposed by the government.

    He said: “Violence and criminality will not eradicate or address the issues of years of neglect of the oil-rich Niger Delta region. We must adopt a more civil and articulated attitude towards changing the face of the struggle.

    “This is urgently required to see the agitation succeed with the support of other ethnic nationalities. We cannot continue to destroy our homes in the name of agitation that lines the pockets of a few and impoverishes the entire masses.

    “The silence of the elites in Bayelsa is becoming too worrisome as their silence indicates a tacit support to the activities of the avengers whose militant agitation was on sabbatical during the six years our brother, former President Goodluck Jonathan held sway”.

    Abarowei appealed to the militants to give the administration of APC and President Muhammadu Buhari a chance to fulfill their marks of development in the region.

    He said the President had demonstrated his eagerness to solve some of the problems in the region beginning with the clean-up of Ogoni which their brother Jonathan refused to initiate.