Niger Delta Avengers attacks unacceptable - N'Delta leaders – The Niger Delta leaders have said they are not in support of the Niger Delta Avengers attacks on oil facilities – They urged the military to carry out the ongoing operation to fish out the members of the group with caution – The group said the Avengers were threatening the unity of Nigeria Some leaders and prominent citizens of the Niger Delta region under the aegis of Concerned Niger Delta Leaders have condemned the recent attacks on the nation’s oil facilities by militants. The national coordinator of the group, Chief Mike Loyibo said the attacks launched by the Niger Delta Avengers were criminal and unacceptable to the people, Daily Trust reports. Speaking during a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, June 1, Loyibo said the agenda of the Avengers is still unclear. He said: “We have for some time watched with utmost dismay the manner in which the Niger Delta Avengers, a group with an aimless agenda, has been destroying our common heritage and the economic mainstay of the country through the vandalisation of critical government infrastructure and oil installations. “To us, the agenda of these people still remains unclear. At best, their actions are clear acts of sabotage and criminality, both against the state and humanity. It is also a direct threat to the collective existence of us all.” According to him, their attack is threatening the collective heritage of the people of the region and the unity of the country. The group which has members like former deputy governor of Bayelsa state, Chief Ebebi Peremobowei, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Francis Tabai, former military administrator of the old Bendel state, Gen. John Yeri, the first military administrator of Rivers state and his majesty, the Amayanabo of Twon Brass, Alfred Diete-Spiff urged the military to bring members of the militant group to book. The Niger Delta leaders asked the military to arrest members of the NDA with caution as last operation in Gbaramatu resulted in the suffering of innocent people. Loyibo said: “You don’t use military solutions in addressing problems. One of the steps, we want to use is to be able to use former agitators who embraced the Amnesty Programme. If you bring all the military, you have not solved the problem. “The problem is not to go and crush them; the problem is to dialogue with them and ensure that you solve the problem once and for all. If there are any issues then, try to address them.” The group’s national coordinator called on President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure the take-off of academic activities at the Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta state and also provide critical infrastructures in the region. Despite criticisms and pleas to lay down their arms, the militants have resolved to continue its relentless attacks on oil and gas installations in the Niger Delta region. In response to continued the bombing by the militants, the federal government on Monday, May 30, deployed a fleet of five warships, 100 gunboats and fighter jets to the creeks of the region. At about 3.44am on Wednesday, June 1, the NDA bombed two oil wells belonging to Chevron oil despite the presence of 100 Gunboats, 4 Warships and Jet Bombers belonging to the Nigerian army. Their renewed attacks on pipelines and oil platforms in the Niger Delta has cut down Nigeria’s 2.2million barrels of crude per day production to about 900,000. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has ruled out any dialogue with the militant group.SRCE:NAIJ.COM
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