niger delta avengers

The Niger Delta Avengers have just released a message in which they implore other militant groups in the Niger Delta to show restraint in the manner they carry out what they call, “the struggle for the liberation of the Niger Delta People.”

In the statement signed by their spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Mudoch Agbinibo, NDA appealed: “All groups are hereby discouraged from indulging in harassing oil workers and soldiers. We urge you all to help any oil workers or soldiers you see in distress. The military warplanes hovering round our towns and villages have not struck a soul or destroyed any property, so those groups with anti-aircraft missiles should dry their gunpowder.”

NDA noted that the “liberation” of the Niger Delta people has now taken a new swing with the daily emergence of new militant groups all over the region. NDA enjoined the various groups to be strong and resolute, saying, it is obvious that God is on their side. From that point however, Niger Delta Avengers delivered a strong note of caution to the militants: “The groups are much now both real and unreal but if you are really fighting for the liberation of the Niger Delta people, the High Command of the Avengers is calling on you 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 right now. We also need the international community as well. Hence, we should desist from any life-threatening actions that will derail our genuine support for our people.”

Even at this, the Niger Delta Avengers appear conscious of the implication of the struggle they have embarked upon. They are not oblivious that the entire situation may soon degenerate into a full-scale armed confrontation with the Nigerian Armed Forces. So, even the appeal carries a subtle message to all the militants to be prepared for war. “When it is time to engage the military in combat,” NDA said, “The whole world will know they (the Nigerian military) started the war and not the Avengers. The Niger Delta Avengers High Command will pass the message round that it’s time to engage in gun battle when the time comes.”

NDA threatened to deal with any militant group that refuses their advice and attacks soldiers. It also called on various groups in Rivers, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Cross River and Akwa Ibom not to kidnap soldiers. Niger Delta Avengers concluded the statement by saying “The war is on oil installations: ‘Operation No Flow of Oil.”’