NIGER DELTA REPUBLIC IS OUR DEMAND - AVENGERS

•Our Goal Is Sovereign State Of Niger Delta —New Militant Group

•Vows to hoist flag, display currency, passport

The new militant group in the Niger Delta, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) has stated that its ultimate goal is to secure a Sovereign State of Niger Delta for its people.

The group vowed to hoist its flag, display its currency and passport, ruling council and territory to the world come October 2016.

Spokesperson for the group, which has repeatedly claimed responsibility of the recent renewed pipeline bombings in the region, Col. Mudoch Agbinibo, stated this in a press release made available to journalists on Thursday in Warri, Delta State.

The group, which boasted it has crippled the nation's economy by 50 per cent and still aiming at 100 per cent, said it has members among the Nigerian Army, noting that all the strategies and plans of the force are readily made available to them.

In a not-too-polished English, the group disclosed: "To the Nigeria military the Niger Delta avengers is among you. And we know all your plans so we will always ten steps ahead of you."

While issuing a note of warning to the military, it added: "In our meeting comprising all heads of the strike teams, which was held in Bayelsa. The Niger Delta Avengers high Command comes to the conclusion that, if the military harass or invade any community in the region then you (Nigeria military) will get a feel of the Avengers.

If you smart or intelligent enough you will look inward not outside. We know when you are vulnerable but not take our calmness for granted."

NDA described President Muhammadu Buhari and some of his cabinet members as practically ignorant of the actual situation and plight of the Niger Delta region, hence their uninformed utterances on happenings in the area.

"To the President of Nigeria Buhari, we are sure you have not been to the creeks of the Niger Delta before and 90 per cent of your cabinets does not know how the region looks like.

You think the Niger Delta region is full of animals, who are going to frustrate your government," the group noted.

They accused Buhari of jettisoning the rule of law in his anti-corruption campaign, citing the detention of Nnamdi Kanu as uncivilised.

"Your government that is not following rule of law, unlawful detention of innocent people just likes of Nnamdi Kanu.

"All he wanted was to let his people go. Nnamdi Kanu didn’t carry any arm against this country, but was incarcerated. We want you to know that no civilise President will behave this way.

If that is how you have devised to run the country, we will prefer you do that in the northern region. When couples are tired of living together to make peace they go their separate ways. That is what Nnamdi kanu and the Niger Deltans are asking.

You always say you fought for the unity of this country during the civil war. You haven’t been to the Niger Delta, how can you know what the people are facing I believe your Vice will tell how the region is suffering and under developed when he visited the Forcados Terminal. That is if he ever looks out of his helicopter window."

Message to Tompolo, other ex-militants

Meanwhile, the NDA has disclosed that its agitation is more refined and sophisticated that what was obtainable during the militancy of the likes of Mr Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo.

"To ex-agitators of the likes of Tompolo, We know why you people are after us. Our agitation is more civilize than yours the Niger Delta Avengers is more concern with people of Niger Delta unlike you (ex-agitations) that were into kidnapping, killing of Nigeria soldiers, sea pirates, vessel and tanker hijacking.

"But we were able to carry out all our operations without killing a fly. We have sophisticated arms far better than what you use to have during your kidnapping days," the group boasted.

The new agitators accused former militants of having enjoyed patronage from oil multinationals and the Federal Government through the Amnesty Programme, but that NDA is solely after projecting the voice of the Niger Deltans to the world on what they are facing.

"After the amnesty Programme you (ex-agitators) has been enjoying patronize from the government and royalty from multinational oil companies.

"While we (Avengers) have been strategising on how the voice of the Niger Deltans can be heard; we are fighting a radical fight without taking any life.

"Lets make it clear, to you our elder brothers (ex-agitators) that we are not begging you to join this agitation.

"We are young, educated, well-traveled and most of us were educated in East Europe, but don’t worry when we achieved our goal (sovereign state of Niger Delta) then you people will be proud of us.

"In as much as we respect you as our elder brothers (ex-agitators) please don’t dare to stand on our way because if you do we will crash you," the group warned.

The group thanked people of the region who share their vision, adding that no amount of criticisms would be able to halt their mission as "the Niger Delta Avengers is enjoying the blame game going around."

The group further stated that some leaders of the group in the struggle are not limited only to the Ijaw ethnic nationality, but drawn from Eastern Nigeria, Itsekiri and from Akwa-Ibom.

"To our brothers from Easterner Nigeria, whom have been condemning and calling us names. The simple fact you are living comfortable doesn’t mean we like you.

The Commander of Strike Team 9 of the Niger Delta Avengers is from Eastern Nigeria so nobody should limit this struggle to the Ijaws of the Niger Delta only.

"The leader of the Strike Team 6 that blew up chevron valve platform is an Itsekiri. The Commander of our elite team strike team one is from Akwa Ibom.

"So if you are calling us empty heads, just know your brothers are part of Niger Delta Avengers as well. Avengers is different from former agitators who limited the struggle to just the Ijaws," it disclosed.

The group warned international oil companies to brace up for more pipeline bombings, saying "this is just the beginning and you have not seen anything yet. We will make you suffer as you have been made the people of Niger Deltans suffered over the years from environmental degradation, and environment pollution."

Meanwhile, the group has issued a two-week ultimatum to owners of oil blocs in the region to shut down or face dire consequences.

Angered by the fact that about 90 per cent oil blocs are owned by individuals from northern Nigeria, which it listed in the statement,  the group warned that if at the expiration of the ultimatum they are still found operating, "it will be bloody."

"To owners and operators of these oil blocs in our region the Niger Delta Avengers is giving you two weeks ultimatum to shut down your operations and evacuates your staff.

"If at the end of the ultimatum and you still operating. We will blow up all the locations. It will be bloody. So just shut down your operations and leave," the group threatened.

Message to United Nations

However, the group has urged the United Nations to support its cause of emancipation of Niger Deltans from what they described as "environmental pollution, slavery, and oppression."

"We want a country that will turn the creeks of the Niger delta to a tourism heaven, a country that will achieve its full potentials, a country that will make health care system accessible by everyone.

"With Niger delta still under the country Nigeria, we can’t make it possible. So we are calling on the Ban Ki-Moon Secretary General United Nations and all Heads of the government of the five Permanent Security Council members to come to the aid of Niger delta people.

"We are calling on world leaders to come to the Niger delta to see the atrocities committed by the Nigeria government," the group noted.

Tribune.