The Niger Delta Avengers that have been blowing up oil installation in the region have made it clear to all those taking part in what they called ‘liberation of the region from Nigeria’ that they need God more than anything now to be able to succeed.

The Avengers who referred toa new threat by another militant group, Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force (JNDLF), to begin launching missiles against the Nigerian military said:“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 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 communities as well.

“Hence, we must desist from any life threatening actions that will derail our genuine struggle for our people,” he advised.”

The Avengers in a statement, titled: “Message to Our Brothers In the Struggle“on its website, Saturday, June 4, denounced threats to use anti-aircraft missiles against Nigerian fighter jets in the oil-rich Niger Delta region.

The statement signed by the group’s spokesman, Brigadier General Mudoch Agbinibo encourages all groups fighting for the liberation of the region be resolute and strong because God is on their side. They also said that anybody who finds a soldier in distress should help him.

“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 Avengers had earlier this week refuted reports that it attacked a military houseboat and killed some soldiers. The group said that “killing sleeping soldiers is not our style”. It promised to bring the culprits to book as it condoled the families of the victims.

The Niger Delta Avengers also called on all groups to desist from harassing oil workers, kidnapping and attacking soldiers saying that if the need arises to defend against the Nigerian military, the group would let its strike forces know.

“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 Avengers said.

It re-emphasized that the Niger Delta Avengers has not engaged any soldier in combat since its campaign began earlier in the year. This dispels rumours of the Avengers killing eight soldiers earlier this week in Onitsha.

The group also stressed that its target are the oil installations in the region and it has succeeded in attacking the pipelines in the region despite heavy military presence without attacking any soldier. It also threatened to deal with any group that ignores its warning and attacks soldiers, “The Avengers will deal with any group that refuses and attacks the military,” the militant group warns.

The militants said they are waging a war for a free Niger Delta Republic in what it tags, Operation Red Economy, with a view of halting crude oil production in Nigeria to force the government to grant the group’s demands.

The Niger Delta Avengers has presented an 11-point demand to President Muhammadu Buhari and the first is the implementation of the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference.

Full Text Of The Niger Delta Avengers

Good Afternoon Niger Deltans. The liberation of the Niger Delta people has taken a new swing with the daily emergence of new groups all over the region. 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 groups are much now both real and unreal but if you 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 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 communities as well. Hence, we must desist from any life threatening actions that will derail our genuine struggle for our people.

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 strike a soul or destroy any property, so those groups with anti-aircraft missiles should dry their gunpowder.

When it is time to engage the military in combat the whole world will know they started the war not the Avengers. The Niger Delta Avengers high command will pass the message round that its time to engage on gun battle when the time comes. So far, we have not engaged the Nigeria military in combat; despite the heavy presence of military on the pipelines. We still find way to carry out our actions without attacking soldiers. The avengers will deal with any group that refuses and attack military.

The high command is calling on all groups in Rivers, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom to not indulge in any act of kidnapping and attacking of soldiers. The war is on oil installations; “Operation On Flow of Oil”

God is our strength; he is going to see the people of Niger delta through.

God bless the Niger delta republic.

Brig.Gen Mudoch Agbinibo

Spokesperson. [myad]

The All Progressives Congress (APC), South South, has said that it has compelling reasons to strongly assert that the Niger Delta Avengers are sponsored and instigated by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to derail and frustrate the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The APC in South South attributed such sponsored group to Buhari government’s determination to fight against corruption, stabilize and put the nation on the path of sustainable development.
A communiqué emanating from a meeting of its Executive and leaders, held in the government House, Benin, Edo state on June 3, called on the government to meet and dialogue with the leaders, and stakeholders of the zone with a view to articulating the best way to address the gamut of issues affecting the area and fashioning out how to meaningfully intervene in order to decisively rein in the activities of the destructive gangs in the zone.
The zonal meeting asked the Federal Government not to reward criminal, violent and bad behaviour in order to discourage the cancerous growth of these activities that wantonly destroys our commonwealth.
The zone also resolved as follows:

“Commends President Muhammadu Buhari for the uncommon courage he has shown in waging an epic an war against the evil of corruption  and its dark apostles in Nigeria. We totally support this fight and the determined effort to restructure the country’s dwindling economy with a view to building a new, respectable, progressive and viable economy and country.
2. The zone acknowledges the sterling and commendable performance of the Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomole, in the delivery of infrastructure and other dividends of good governance to the people of Edo State.
3. The zone noted that elections are around the corner to elect a governor that will succeed the Comrade Governor. The zone urges the National Exco of our great Party to provide a level-playing field for all the gubernatorial aspirants to openly vie for the Party’s ticket.
4. The zone commends President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC national government for the patriotic courage to commence the clean – up of Ogoni land as long recommended by UNEP. However, the zone also notes that despite the fact that most of the natural resources of our country comes from the zone, the Niger Delta region largely remains without adequate infrastructure, in addition to environmental degradation arising from the exploration and production of crude oil. Against this background, the zone calls on the federal government to, as a matter of urgency, carry out a complete overhaul of developmental agencies charged with the responsibility for the reclamation and development of the area such as NDDC, NOSDRAE etc.
5. The zone observes that Party members in the South-South States like Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Bayelsa and Cross River are being persecuted, maimed and cold-bloodedly murdered by agents of the PDP government in these States. The zonal leaders of our Party, therefore, kindly requests all the law enforcement agencies to be alert to their constitutional responsibilities and to take necessary steps to bring all those perpetrating these crimes to justice.
6. The zone notes the upsurge of renewed militancy in the area, especially the activities of a group that calls itself “Niger Delta Avengers.” The zone unequivocally condemns the destructive activities of this group in its entirety. The zone is cocksure that the nefarious and ruinous activities of the “Avengers” are not driven by any patriotic and altruistic impulse; rather, we have compelling reasons to strongly assert that these activities are sponsored and instigated by the opposition PDP to derail and frustrate the APC government of President Muhammadu Buhari because of its determination to fight against corruption, stabilise and put our country on the path of sustainable development.
The zone calls on the government to meet and dialogue with the leaders, and stakeholders of the zone with a view of articulating the best way to address the gamut of issues affecting the area and fashioning how to meaningfully intervene in order to decisively rein in the activities of the destructive gangs in the zone. The zonal meeting, however, warns that the Federal Government should resist the temptation to reward criminal, violent and bad behaviour in order to discourage the cancerous growth of these activities that wantonly destroys our commonwealth.
7. The zone respectfully appeals to the Federal Government to quickly address the issues of equitable appointments of qualified Party leaders and stakeholders and members into executive positions and Federal Boards. The zone is convinced that this will go a long way in reassuring our restive youths that the South-South States are being carried along as part and parcel of the Nigerian family and equal partner in the APC National Government.
8. The zone notes the present agitation for the independent “State of Biafra” and the dubious inclusion of the Niger Delta region in the map of the area constituting this imaginary State of Biafra. The zone states most unequivocally that Niger Delta is not, cannot and will never be part of Biafra.
9. Finally, the zone calls for the immediate reconstitution of the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, to reflect and accommodate all the constituent States of the region.
Signed by the understated members of the executives and leaders of the zone:
A) Prince Hilliard Eta,
National Vice-Chairman South South
B) Hon. Steven Ezekwem
Zonal Secretary. [myad]

The army has alerted members of the public, especially Muslims of what it called a grand plan by Boko Haram terrorists to carry out wide spread bombings during the Ramadan period.

A statement by the acting director of defence, Brigadier General Rabe Abubakar, said that information available the army headquarters indicated plans by terrorists to use the Ramadan periods which usually attracts gathering of large number of persons during morning and evening worships and prayers to carry out large scale bombings.

Brigadier General Rabe said that against the background of such information, the Defence Headquarters advises the general public to be watchful of strange persons and objects in their localities particularly, around places of worships and to promptly report same to security agencies

“It is further to advice that adequate security and surveillance be evolved by respective places of worship to forestall any unwholesome acts by some unscrupulous elements.

“The DHQ wishes to reassure law abiding citizens to go about their normal businesses while efforts are being made to eliminate the remnants of the terrorists from their hideouts as well as addressing other security challenges in the country.” [myad]