Avengers Issue Fresh Threats …Give FG 7-Day Ultimatum

The Niger Delta Avengers have pledged to go on a rampage and to declare full-scale war in seven days, if the Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Governemnt fails to meet their demands.
In a statement signed by the spokesman of Adaka Boro Avengers, Edmos Ayayeibo, the group urged junior oil workers in the petroleum industry in the Niger Delta to immediately ask all international oil companies operating in the oil-rich region to evacuate their territory.
According to the militants, the failure to do so will lead to untold calamity on staff and on oil and gas pipelines.
The statement further reads, “we want all Nigerians to know how we will surprise the President of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Worker’s (NUPENG), Mr, Igwe Achese, on how he wants to cause crisis in the Niger Delta region.
“By asking the Federal Government of Nigeria to engage the service of a security outfit managed by some ex-militants in the Niger Delta for the security of crude oil facilities in the region, his words is a slap to the Niger Delta agitators.
“We shall let him know that the Niger Delta is not a place for him to set fire. Rather, we will go after the lives of his members, and the so-called oil installations in the region. This is a sound warning to all multinational oil companies operating in the region to withdraw their services, in their own interest for now, until matters are resolved in the region.
“Failure to adhere to this warning, we will go on rampage for the total destruction of workers and oil installations, they will have themselves to blamed. It has also come to our notice that President Muhammadu Buhari is not ready for any meaningful dialogue process in the Niger Delta.
“Since our representative, Papa E. Kiagbodo Clark and the King Diete-Spiff-led groups’ submitted the 16-point agenda to President Buhari, he has not shown any sign of engaging the leaders in any further peace process.”
Meanwhile, the Adaka Boro Avengers have given kudos to the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, for his tireless efforts in combating the crisis in the Niger Delta region.
The militants stated that they want all the leaders from the Niger Delta region, particularly Clark, Diete-Spiff and Kachikwu to step aside to enable the group take the bull by the horn.
“We are tired of talks only. Our resources and that of our unborn children are being taken to feed the whole country on daily basis. Yet, we are listening to Buhari and his APC talks. After the seven days deadline, it will be total war across all states in the Niger Delta region,” the group added.
At the same time, the Oro Freedom Fighters, another militant group, has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the president, demanding the announcement of the Niger Delta Republic.
The Avengers also recently threatened the secession of the oil-rich region from the rest of Nigeria and has clashed with the MEND, another group that led an insurgency in the region in the mid-2000s.
MEND is negotiating with President Buhari’s government over the current crisis.
The Avengers said that Clark was unsuitable to lead negotiations between militant groups and the government and that it supported the military’s current presence in the Niger Delta.

Susan Serekara-Nwikhana