A press statement by the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), and signed by Brigadier General Mudoch Agbinibo, urged the public to disregard statements by former remnants of the group Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) against them.
The NDA statement, published on their website, follows criticism of them by ex-MEND members which urged leaders in the Niger Delta region to not protect this militant group.
The NDA said in part that “all purported statements and misplaced threat emanating from disbanded criminal elements like the so-called MEND that are political sidekicks and desperations from Gov. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state, Mr. Timipre Silva and their political paymasters.”
They added that “the NDA is unperturbed, we have mandate that is clearly a departure of those old tactics of the defunct so-called MEND that was indulged in kidnapping, hostage taking, Sea piracy, illegal oil bunkering, bank robberies and social crimes, the likes of Boyloafs, Ateke Toms, were associated to in their days in the name struggle.”
The full statement by the NDA can be read below:
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
MEND YOUR CRIMINAL DAYS ARE OVER.
We appeal to the general public and all sane minds on the activities of Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) to disregards all purported statements and misplaced threat emanating from disbanded criminal elements like the so-called MEND (Movement For the Emancipation of The Niger Delta) that are political sidekicks and desperations from Gov. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state, Mr. Timipre Silva and their political paymasters to hold their political party to the jugular of the affairs of the Niger Delta Region. That our struggle is focused on the liberation of the People of Niger Delta from decades of divisive rule and exclusion. We are watching keenly their regretful efforts at rebranding and regrouping criminal elements in the region for their short political gains and territories. The NDA is unperturbed, we have mandate that is clearly a departure of those old tactics of the defunct so-called MEND that was indulged in kidnapping, hostage taking, Sea piracy, illegal oil bunkering, bank robberies and social crimes, the likes of Boyloafs, Ateke Toms, were associated to in their days in the name struggle. The wind of change in the Niger Delta struggle has come, we are are young, smart, and focused Niger deltans. Our mandate is to liberate the Niger Delta people; we don’t run after pipeline contracts.
God bless the Niger Delta People.
Brig.Gen Mudoch Agbinibo