A Niger Delta militant group, has vowed to retaliate any attack on Christians and churches in the country by Boko Haram insurgents.
The group,Niger Delta Revolutionary Crusaders, NDRC, was reacting to the threat issued by the new leader of the violent Islamist group, Abu Masab el-Barnawi, to kill Christians and burn down churches.
The NDRC, in a statement issued on Saturday, and signed by WOI Izon-Ebi, said: “We want to alert Nigerians and the world that the Islamization plot has been proven by the Boko Haram new leader Abu Masab el Barnawi that their new mission is to kill all Christians and burn down all churches.
“But, we want to warn them that we, the Niger Delta youths, in this 21st century will not accept killing of innocent Christians or burning of churches. That if they try it in the north or any part of Nigeria, we the Niger Delta youths will not see any Muslim or mosque in the Niger Delta.”
The group further said: “We are not against President Buhari granting the Boko Haram amnesty if their sole purpose is to own an Islamic caliphate in the north, but they should not shift it to the Niger Delta.
“All we know and want is resource control and true federalism, if truly they believe in one Nigeria, and are working harder to build a prosperous One Nigeria, let them shift their Operation Crocodile Tears to the Fulani herdsmen and the Boko Haram that is threatening the unity and peace of Nigeria”.
The militant group also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to demonstrate leadership just the way former President Goodluck Jonathan did by visiting him {Buhari} to assure him that he was not part of the planned declaration of the Niger Delta Republic.
