We won’t kill, kidnap anybody – Niger Delta Avengers

The new militant group, Niger Delta Avengers, that has intensified attacks on the nation’s oil facilities in the Niger Delta region, said on Saturday that it would not kill or kidnap anybody.


It also warned other militant groups in the region to desist from killing soldiers and oil workers as not to offend God in their mission to ‘liberate the people of the region.’ The group advised the public to be wary of suspected fraudsters who now parade themselves as representatives or spokespersons for the group. NDA, in a statement signed by its spokesman, Brig. Gen. Mudoch Agbinibo, urged the people “to be strong and resolute as it is obvious that God is on our side.”


While condemning the recent killing of some soldiers and oil workers in Niger Delta, the group added that the heavy military presence in the region would not tempt it to kill in order not to derail from its agenda.


It stated, “The avengers are calling on all groups in the region to be strong and resolute as it is obvious that God is on our side. “The high command of the avengers is calling on all not to attack any soldier and those claiming to have anti-aircraft missiles should desist from targeting any aircraft. Let us be careful not to offend God in the process of trying to liberate our people from the shackles of the Nigerian government because we need God more than anything now.


The statement also indicated that since the military warplanes hovering over towns and villages in the region had not destroyed any property or killed anybody, militants groups with ‘anti-aircraft missiles should dry their gunpowder.’ “When it is time to engage the military in a combat, the whole world will know they started the war and not the avengers,’’ the statement added.


Meanwhile, at least one person was killed and many injured in renewed hostilities between Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities in Delta State over a lingering boundary dispute.


The dead person was said to be indigene of Aladja.


While Aladja is a community in Udu Local Council Area, Ogbe-Ijoh is the headquarters of Warri South-West. Many residents, especially women and children, fled to neigbouring communities for safety, sources said on Saturday. The Secretary, Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Governing Council, Aaron Oweizi-Ebiye, told journalists on Saturday that the incident was caused by youths from Aladja community who he accused of invading Ogbe-Ijoh community. Reacting, Chairman, Aladja Governing Council, Dogene Elias, faulted Oweizi-Ebiye’s claim, saying Ogbe-Ijoh youths started attacking the community on Wednesday.


Last week, the state governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, inaugurated an eight-man panel of inquiry to find a solution to the lingering land dispute between the two communities. Efforts to speak with the acting spokesman for Delta State Police Command, Charles Muka, were futile as he did not pick calls made to his mobile phone.