We won’t kill, kidnap anybody — N’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 and emailed to our correspondent,
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 told SUNDAY PUNCH 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.
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