Niger Delta Crisis: Buhari Sparks As Negotiating Elders Demand N8b, Tagged N'Delta Govs. Corrupt, Untrustworthy

A fresh report suggests that astronomic demand of N8 billion is the major reason why the ongoing negotiation between the Federal Government and the elders from the troubled Niger Delta region stalled.

The Federal Government and representatives of various groups in the Niger Delta have come to a near standstill in a dispute over the disbursement of N8 billion, Sahara reporters reported yesterday. 

President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has been in negotiations with several Niger Delta stakeholders to end the growing insecurity in the zone where a new militant group, Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), has been bombing oil facilities. 

A number of “elders” from the Niger Delta area, who have been represented in the talks as “major stakeholders,” demanded N8 billion from the Buhari administration as a condition for continuing with negotiations, Presidency source said according to Sahara Reporters

“The elders also demanded that the money should be given directly by the Federal Government to them because they said they don’t trust the governors of the Niger Delta States to handle the funds,” one source said.

According to the source, Mr. Buhari was adamant that he could not honor the elders’ demands. He said the president stated that such a payment to a private group would violate the Constitution. “Mr. President’s position is that there is no legal mechanism in place that allows him to allocate any sum of money directly to the elder group, bypassing State governments. The elders have to change the constitution if they want President Muhammadu Buhari to give them money directly,” the source said.

President Buhari urged the elders to publicly protest against the governors if they believed the state governors to be corrupt and untrustworthy.

In the face of the stalemate in negotiations, President Buhari is reportedly bent on escalating military options as a way to curb the growing insecurity in the region.

Friday evening, security forces arrested more than 100 suspected militants from the Niger Delta area.

Over the last few months, members of the Niger Delta Avengers have bombed numerous oil facilities belonging to international oil companies in the Niger Delta region. The militant group has demanded more crude oil revenues for the oil-producing states, the release of militants who are being detained or incarcerated, and continued funding of the amnesty program for former militants. The group’s bomb attacks on oil facilities have forced oil firms in the Delta region to be on high alert, to take significant security measures to protect their employees, and to cut down on oil production.

Earlier this week, the United States State Department issued a travel warning for American citizens in twenty Nigerian states, including the entire states in the Niger Delta. The State Department cited growing insecurity, the risk of abduction and violent robbery as well as terrorism.

Excerpted from Sahara Reporters

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Buhari A Liar, We're Not In Dialogue With FG - N'Delta Avengers

Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), has described as a deception, government’s claim of negotiating with the militants in the Niger Delta oil region.

President Muhammadu Buhari had on Thursday, while granting farewell audience to the outgoing Ambassador of Germany to Nigeria, Mr. Michael Zinner, at the Presidential Villa Abuja, claimed that his administration was holding talks with the militants for possible compromise.

But Avengers, which has been the deadliest group since resurgence of militancy in the oil region in a statement issued by the group’s spokesman, Mudoch Agbinibo refuted the claim, saying the group was not aware of any ongoing peace talks.

The statement read, “Our attention has been drawn to media report that the president is in touch with Niger Delta agitators including the Niger Delta Avengers, but the truth is that we are not aware of any peace talk.

“If there is any such peace talk, it means the president is talking to their mercenaries set to disturb the genuine struggle of the agitators. President Buhari-led government is not sincere to the Nigeria people and their foreign allies.

“If we are to engage in any peace talk we made it clear that the international community must be part of it. The President knows our demands. So they should stop deceiving the international oil companies, the general public and the international community”, the statement read.

By Ebere Ndukwu …

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Panic As Plot To Bomb Computer Village Lagos By BIAFRA Agitators Uncovered, N'Delta Avengers Arrested

COMPUTER VILLAGE IN IKEJA LAGOS

Panic has rented the air in Lagos as a plot to bomb the popular and populous Computer Village in Ikeja Area of Lagos State has been uncovered by the men of Nigeria secret police, the DSS.

The Department of State Security DSS released a statement yesterday stating that it has arrested a member of ‎the Indigenous People of Biafra, Onwudiwe Chidiebere a graduate of Mechanical and Chemical Engineering who is allegedly working with  other members of the IPOB and some foreigners to plan a bomb attack on Nigeria’s largest computer market, the Computer Village in Ikeja, Lagos.‎

The statement added that two suspected members of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) linked to Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo) have also been arrested for planning the assassination of a Kaduna-based military officer and the bombing of oil and gas pipelines.

The statement reads:

“On 7th June, 2016, one Kabiru SHUAIBU, the ring-leader of a kidnap gang, comprising his accomplices namely: Haruna SALEH, Tukur SHUAIBU and Abdulmumuni ADAMUNA, were arrested by the Service along Murtala Muhhamad Bridge, along Lokoja-Abuja Highway, in Lokoja, Kogi State. The suspects were part of a criminal gang which has been terrorizing innocent citizens in the Northern region of the Federation. 

During their arrest, a locally-made pistol, seven cartridges, 14 mobile phones and N615,000 were recovered on them. On 8th June, 2016, one Reuben Akinbehinje aka Chairman, the ring-leader of a notorious kidnap syndicate, was arrested by this Service in Akure, Ondo State, along with five (5) other members of his gang namely; John Imoleayo Uche, Seun Lajuwon, Seun Iseoluwa Akintayo, Lateef Fayemi Hammed and Saheed Oyewo. 

The Akinbehinje gang has been the brain behind the kidnap of two Catholic nuns in the State and other criminalities such as armed robbery, hijack and diversion of fuel tankers and cult-related activities in Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Lagos and Kwara States. Similarly, on 12th June, 2016, this Service arrested one Ifeanyi Michael Onyike, a suspected kidnap kingpin at D-line, Port Harcourt in Rivers State. Onyike was involved in the kidnap of Ebere Chinda, wife to Igo Chinda, the Personal Assistant (PA) to the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi. 

Further to this tactical offensive, on 25h June, 2016, in one of the North-Western States, one Sani Abdullahi, and his three accomplices, namely Rufai Tukur Abdullahi, Najeeb Abubakar and Abdullahi Ahmed, were apprehended by this Service. The group has concluded arrangements to embark on serial kidnap of high-value targets in Katsina State, before their arrest. 

This gang has hitherto been terrorizing the North-Western States of Kano, Katsina, Kebbi and Zamfara. In a bid to stem the activities of vandals in the Niger Delta, this Service effected the arrest of Selky Kile TORUGHEDI, on 17th June, 2016, in Calabar, Cross River State. Toruchedi is an ex-militant and suspected member of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), and was arrested for planning to assassinate one MB.Yahaya a serving military officer. Toruchedi, who is a close associate of Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), had already conducted surveillance at the residence of Yahaya in Kaduna, preparatory to his plot when he was intercepted. 

He is also fingered as a sponsor of pipeline vandalism in some States in the South-South region. Suspect is currently assisting the Service, with critical leads. In a related operation, this Service arrested one Christian Oluba aka Sensor, another suspected militant with the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA). Sensorwas arrested while perfecting plans to carry out explosive attacks on critical oil and gas pipelines, including critical storage points. 

Meanwhile, sequel to increasing threat posed to public peace by the activities of the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB), this Service arrested one Chidiebere Onwudiwe, a graduate of Mechanical and Chemical Engineering and known member of IPOB, on 22ndJune, 2016. Onwudiwe and his associates within and outside the country, were planning to carry out coordinated attacks against religious bodies/edifices, Police-Check Points and the computer village in Ikeja, Lagos State, with Improvised Explosive devices (IEDS). 

The suspect was apprehended while making logistics supplies for their nefarious plan. In another development, on 19th June, 2016, at Langtang North LGA in Plateau State, this Service in liaison with the military and Police, arrested one Nanpon Sambs (aka Yabam), an illegal arms dealer. SAMBS is a member of a notorious black market arms syndicate led by one Peter Nehemia (aka Adagyo) which operates in the State. A Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) launcher and circuit charger were recovered from a Toyota Highlander SUV belonging to the suspect‎".

BOMBINGS In N'Delta: Fugitive Tompolo Speaks Again From Hideout

Embattled former militant, Government Ekpemokpolo, aka Tompolo has called on the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) to put a stop on its bombings of oil facilities in the region, and embrace the option of dialogue put forward by the Federal Government.

He stated in an open letter on Saturday, “I wish to reiterate that you guys must stop the bombing and destruction of oil facilities in the Niger Delta region now and embrace the dialogue option from the Federal Government as it is (dialogue) the only pragmatic means in resolving a crisis no matter huge and complicated such crisis is.”

Expressing support for government dialogue option, Tompolo who is still on the run, said, “I believe fervently that the Government is serious and willing to end this re-occurring crisis in the Niger Delta region. Enough is enough”.

The wanted Tompolo also reiterated his earlier claim that he is not involved in the formation or operations of the Avengers, adding that the group’s activities had only given vent to rumour peddling from those intent on implicating and profiteering from the Niger Delta crisis.

“I wish to once again write the members of the Niger Delta Avengers to embrace the Federal Government dialogue option as a way out of the brewing crisis in the Niger Delta region. As I have said before now, I do not know you and how to reach you except through the mass media, therefore it is high time you stopped the bombing and destruction of crude oil facilities in the Niger Delta region.

“One thing you guys may not be aware of is that, you have not only succeeded in militarizing the Niger Delta region now, but also succeeded in given birth to so many negotiators and political jobbers within the government circle, who are very serious rumour peddlers in the country now.

He also lamented the military invasion of Gbaramatu kingdom.

“As for the people of Gbaramatu kingdom, they have not known peace since you guys started the bombing of oil facilities as they have been harassed, intimidated, violated and invaded on daily basis by the Nigerian Military under the guise of looking for members of your group (Niger Delta Avengers) and my humble self, who they have criminally and wickedly linked to the Niger Delta Avengers.

“Presently all communities in Gbaramatu kingdom have been disserted by residents for fear of a repeat of the 2009 military invasion, which still leave the communities in shambles. Even till now, the military has not returned the symbol of authority they took away from the Egbesu Shrine and other valuables in Oporoza community during the May 28, 2016 invasion.

“It is pertinent to state that I have not heard and seen in any part of Nigeria, even the most volatile North Eastern part of Nigeria,where Boko Haram has been killing innocent people, the way and manner the Military desecrated the traditional worship centres in Gbaramatu Kingdom. This is a clear oppression and intimidation of the peace loving people of Gbaramatu Kingdom”, he said.

RipplesNigeria

BREAKING: N'Delta Avengers Blow Up Agip Pipeline This Morning In Bayelsa As Foreign Refiners Shun Nigeria crude Oil

As usual, the Niger Delta Avengers, the militants group has blown the Obi Obi Brass Trunkline belonging to Agip ENI in Bayelsa State. The trunkline is Agip's Major Crude oil Line in Bayelsa State. 

The militant also claimed the foreign crude oil refiners have shunned Nigeria's crude oil, thereby stating that the development was 'good riddance to bad rubbish'.

It further said Nigeria has been robbing the Niger Delta people of its oil and gas, that time will soon come when the group will intimate the international refiners to do business with the region direct. 

"3:am of Friday @NDAvengers blow up the Obi Obi Brass Trunk line belonging to Agip ENI. It is Agip's Major Crude oil Line in Bayelsa State." , the tweet says

3:am of Friday @NDAvengers blow up the Obi Obi Brass Trunk line belonging to Agip ENI. It is Agip's Major Crude oil Line in Bayelsa State.

— Niger Delta Avengers (@NDAvengers) June 10, 2016

Good the Foreign Refineries stop buying Nigerian Oil. pic.twitter.com/TEWjxeuOmY

— Niger Delta Avengers (@NDAvengers) June 10, 2016

Many militants group in the Niger Delta region have been wrecking havoc on virtually all oil and gas facilities belonging to the government and some private companies.

Just yesterday evening, the militants, continued with attacks on oil facilities  with the bombing of a pipeline belonging to the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.

According to sources, the incident happened at 7:40pm around the Shalomi Creek in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State.
The  Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, and other militant groups in the region are yet to claim responsibility  for the attack.

A military source, speaking under condition of anonymity, confirmed the development.

The source said details of the incident were still sketchy due to the time it took place.

However, the Niger Delta Avengers, earlier on Thursday, threatened to secede from the country, saying that successive governments had been unfair to the people of the Niger Delta region.

It also called on the international community, especially Britain, France, United States, Russia and China not to allow the region to go the way of Sudan.

The group, in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Murdoch Agbinibo, insisted that all that successive governments wanted was the flow of crude oil from the region and not its development, vowing to remedy the age-long devastation against the region with every means necessary.
The statement reads in part: “Since the amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914 to date, our resources have been used to sustain the political administrative live-wire of Nigeria to the exclusion of the Niger Delta.

“Finally, we are calling on the international community to come and support the restoration of our right to peaceful self-determination from this tragedy of 1914 that has expired since 2014.

“We want our resources back to restore the essence of human life in our region for generations to come because Nigeria has failed to do that. The world should not wait until we go the Sudan way. Enough is enough.
“This history of terror, we the Niger Delta Avengers will resist and correct with every means necessary. We have nothing to lose in the battle ahead.”

It added, “Justice, they say, is only found within the structure of a nation state; rather than provide justice, the Nigerian government has decided to mobilise her military might to intimidate, torture, maim, victimise and bombard a section of the nation and her citizenry to allow the free flow of our oil.

“Since the day crude oil was discovered in commercial quantity and quality in Oloibiri in the present day Bayelsa State, what we have being asking from successive governments in Nigeria is potable drinking water, electricity, roads, employment, quality education, resource control and inclusive governance.”

Enough Is Enough, N'Delta Avengers Declares, Says It Wants own Nation

"Since the amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914 to date, our resources have been used to sustain the political administrative live wire of Nigeria to the exclusion of the Niger delta. Finally, we are calling on the international community, to come and support the restoration of our right to peaceful self-determination from this tragedy of 1914 that has expired since 2014."

That ia an excerpts from a statement just released by the Niger Delta Avengers urging international communities to assist them in breaking away from Nigeria. 

In the statement published on its site, http://www.nigerdeltaavengers.org/2016/06/enough-of-this-injustice.html, the group lamented neglects by successive government of the nation.

Beloow is the full Statement: 

Since the day crude oil was discovered in commercial quantity and quality in Oloibiri, present day Bayelsa state, what we have being asking from successive governments in Nigeria is portable drinking water in the midst of plenty of water mass, electricity, roads, employment, quality education/educational facilities, resource control, participation in the oil business and inclusive governance that will engender substantial freedom.
The reserve have been the case, from Oloibiri, Brass LNLG and export terminals in Bayelsa; Bonny LNLG and export terminals in River state; ExxonMobil in Akwa Ibom; Escravos EGTL/ Tankfarm and export terminals; Forcados Tankfarm and export terminals in Delta state operated respectively by Anglo-Dutch Shell, Chevron/Texaco Over seas, Agip ENI, ExxonMobil. The history of the communal lives is terror of poverty, inhumanity and desolate living conditions. But when you move into these facilities operated by the Multinational Oil Corporations, they are living like Kings and Presidents.
For over five decades, we have given Multinational Oil Corporations and their collaborator the Nigerian State peace, cooperation and love for the crude oil to flow unhindered from our land. The continuous tranquility is only manifesting in the development of mountains, rock, valleys, deserts and lagoon but the Niger Delta territory continually alienated from all types of development and all essence of quality human life.
Meanwhile all successive governments worships the crude oil taken from the region. Our communities and the people are only good at securing the pipelines, oil and gas facilities. What a tragedy? We are calling on the international community especially Britain, France, the United State of America, Russia, China and European Union to speak up against this ongoing terror and come to the aid of the Niger Delta, as witnesses to this grave inhumanity and history of terror perpetuated against the people of the Niger Delta daily.
This history of terror, we the Niger Delta Avengers will resist and correct with every means necessary. We have nothing to loose in the battles ahead; justice they say is only found within the structure of a nation state, rather than provide this justice the Nigerian government has decided to mobilise her military might to intimidate, torture, maim, victimise and bombard a section of the nation state and her citizenry to allow the free flow of our oil. Some persons, groups, and commentators may ask, what do the people of Niger delta want?
We are not like some of these personalities who run champagne parties or turn Rivers State Government House into a house patrimony of god-sons and prebendalism. They says the progress and success of a nation state is the reflection of her constitution that is not manufactured to favour some section and excludes the yearning and aspirations of others; but the indwelling spiritual and historical development of its people.
Since the amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914 to date, our resources have been used to sustain the political administrative live wire of Nigeria to the exclusion of the Niger delta. Finally, we are calling on the international community, to come and support the restoration of our right to peaceful self-determination from this tragedy of 1914 that has expired since 2014.
We want our resources back to restore the essence of human life in our region for generations to come because Nigeria has failed to do that. The world should not wait until we go the Sudan ways. Enough is enough God Bless Niger Delta People. Brig. Gen Mudoch Agbinibo Spokesperson.

BREAKING: N'Delta Avengers REJECTS Peace Dialogue With FG, Blows Up Another Pipeline In Warri

The notorious militants, the Niger Delta Avengers specialises in the bombing of NNPC and private oil companies facilities has rejected peace dialogue extended to it by the Federal Government.

The group through it twitter handle few hours ago said it was not negotiating with any committee set up by the Federal Government.

It further warned that should the government be negotiating with any group, definitely not avengers, and are doing so at own peril. 

 "This is to the Gen. public we're not negotiating with any Committee. if Fed Govt is discussing wth any group they're doing that on their own", the tweet read.

This is to the Gen. public we're not negotiating with any Committee. if Fed Govt is discussing wth any group they're doing that on their own

— Niger Delta Avengers (@NDAvengers) June 8, 2016

The group also claimed it has blow up Well RMP 20 belonging to Chevron located 20 meters away from Dibi flow Station in Warri North LGA.

At 1:00am today, the @NDAvengers blow up Well RMP 20 belonging to Chevron located 20 meters away from Dibi flow Stattion in Warri North LGA.

— Niger Delta Avengers (@NDAvengers) June 8, 2016

Just yesterday, the Nigerian government has ordered the immediate withdrawal of troops from communities in the Niger Delta region, amid allegations of a heavy-handed military response to renewed attacks on oil and gas installations in the area.

The Niger Delta Avengers has declared war on the installations, vowing to ground Nigeria’s oil production.

The group, which says it wants a sovereign state of the Niger Delta, has attacked several facilities in recent weeks, cutting oil and gas production and forcing oil companies to shut some export terminals.

Residents of the area have however complained of harassment and indiscriminate arrests by soldiers hunting the militants.

The government said it was withdrawing troops immediately. Soldiers will continue to patrol the waterways.

The decision was taken at a meeting between Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, governors from states in the Niger Delta region, some ministers and service chiefs.

The minister of state for petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, had on Monday announced that President Muhammadu Buhari had directed a two-week cessation of military offensive in the Niger Delta region, to enable the government dialogue with the militants.

Speaking to journalists after Tuesday’s meeting, Delta state governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, said, “We have also agreed that there is a need to distill military operations directly in communities, but the military need to actually remain on our waterways to ensure that we adequately man the waterways itself while we engage the communities and that engagement process is starting any moment from now”.

Mr. Okowa said during the meeting they received briefings on the current state of things and agreed that a synergy, especially in a form of intelligence sharing, between the Federal Government and the States would help in tackling the problem.

“We have taken a lot of decisions which will help us mitigate what is going on currently in the states particularly Bayelsa and Delta.

“One of such is that there is a need for us to share intelligence which is very important and for us to be proactive, working together with the various stakeholders in the states to achieve a better result

going forward,” he said.

He said the decision of withdrawing the troops took was to begin immediately.

Others at the meeting include the governors of Edo, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Ondo and Rivers State. The deputy governor of Cross River State also attended the meeting.

All service chiefs, ministers of Niger Delta, Petroleum (state) and Defence were also in attendance.

The Edo state governor, Mr. Oshiomhole, told journalists that Nigeria was not at war as the government was ready to address the conflict.

“If we have conflicts, we will talk through those conflicts. There are laws that have to be enforced. I think that in all of these the whole idea is to find peace that is functional, that creates an environment for very decent Nigerians to live their lives,” he said.

Photo Of Suspected Niger Delta Avengers Coordinator, Other Arrested By The Navy

The  Nigeria Navy has claimed it has arrested a militant believed to be coordinator of the multiple attacks on oil and gas facilities in Delta State has been arrested The Nation has reported this morning

He was yesterday paraded along with some other suspects by the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta in Warri.

Also paraded were six other suspects arrested for other crimes, among them, the suspected killers of some security personnel and civilians in Batan, Warri South-West council area of Delta State on April 30.

Also yesterday, the Federal Government was praised for initiating a ceasefire in Delta State creeks in the ongoing effort to restore peace to the volatile area.

The Commander of the NNS Delta, Commodore Raimi Mohammed, at a press conference held at the base of the command in Warri, described the arrest of the suspected coordinator of the attacks on Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) facilities as “a star success”.

He believes that his arrest would curtail further attacks.

Commodore Mohammed, who did not name the suspects, particularly the three key suspects, said his command worked in synergy with other law enforcement agencies to achieve the feat, adding that they all followed up on the investigations and interrogations that made the arrests possible.

“Today I am pleased to announce that after several weeks of persistent efforts, the Nigerian Navy, in collaboration with other security agencies, has arrested the main coordinator of attacks on NNPC and Chevron oil and gas facilities that we have witnessed since May 4, 2016, with the attack on Chevron’s Okan valve platform, offshore Escravos.

“This arrest came after weeks of trailing and arrest of his foot-soldiers. It is important to mention that the suspect is also deeply involved in pipeline vandalism for stealing crude oil. He steals crude oil from about 35 abandoned oil well-heads and crude oil pipelines in Okpoko and Obodo in Warri South-West council area of Delta state. The Nigerian Navy believes with the arrest of this suspect, the attacks on Chevron/NNPC oil and gas facilities will abate,” the naval chief said.

He said that the command was on the trail of his collaborators and foot-soldiers, whom he said were on the run, adding that materials used in blowing up and vandalising facilities had been recovered.

Commodore Mohammed revealed that a key arrest had also been made in the investigation of the attack last week on the Shell Petroleum Development Company’s (SPDC’s) 48-inch crude export pipeline in Forcados.

Asked if any of the key arrests had led to the unveiling of those behind the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), the officer said his concern was not about names of persons or groups, but about the actual persons involved in the attacks.

For the Federal Government, it has been praises for initiating the ceasefire in the creeks of Delta State after months of military onslaught against rampaging Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).

The Center for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), a non-governmental Organisation (NGO) which gave the commendation, described it as a welcome development.

But it urged the government not to politicise the dialogue to be led by the National Security Adviser (NSA). Critical stakeholders from the core oil producing communities should be included in the process otherwise the impact would not trickle down to the grassroots, the NGO said.

In a statement signed by it National Coordinator, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, CEPEJ said: “Most of the crises are being perceived to be sponsored by the political class to gain more relevance.”

The Center observed that several dialogues had been held in the past on the development of the Niger Delta, but the resolutions were never implemented.

‘’We want to believe that this is not another political gimmick but a genuine intention to address the problem once and for all,” it said.

CEPEJ urged the communities to take advantage of the proposed parley by electing credible leaders to lead the talks on their behalf and not succumb to the whims and caprices of politicians.

The NGO called on the militants to lay down their arms and embrace dialogue as the only veritable and viable means to resolving conflicts and not personalise the Niger Delta question.

‘’Niger Delta Avengers should sheathe their swords and embrace peace. The issues they are fighting for are not personal. The problem of underdevelopment is encompassing the Niger Delta region. They should give room for dialogue.’’

TheNation

N'Delta Avengers Attacks MEND, Oshiomhole, Silva; Says MEND Are Robbers, Kidnappers, Pirates

The Niger Delta Avengers, the militant group specialises in bombing the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation facilities in the region has launched a verbal attack on a co-militant group, the Movement For Emancipation of Niger Delta, MEND, describing the co-militants as criminals, kidnappers, sea piracy, bank robbers among others.

The NDA in a publication published on its website by it spokesman,  Brig.Gen Mudoch Agbinibo condemned the MEND group over what it describes as "misplaced threat emanating from disbanded criminal elements" The group also accused Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State and Timipre Silva of sponsoring the MEND group in an effort to launder the  group which had engaged in various criminal activities in the name of struggle for the Niger Delta People.

The statement read;

"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 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."

My Style of Fighting Corruption While In Office - Jonathan

Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday defended his tenure, saying he fought corruption, but added that he is being investigated for graft by the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

He also denied leaving an empty treasury.

In an interview with Bloomberg Television in London, aired yesterday, Dr.Jonahan said the threats by the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) will be peacefully resolved.

”I cannot say the country from the beginning of our independence, that there was no corruption; yes there has been corruption. I did very well also to curtail corruption.

“My approach to corruption was ‘don’t make money available for anyone to touch’.

“We made sure that area of fertiliser subsidies was cleaned up and the whole corruption there was removed.

“I tried to do the same in the oil industry, but the very people that were accusing us of corruption, were the same people frustrating it; it’s unfortunate.”

Asked if he was concerned that he would be investigated for corruption while in office, Jonathan said he was being investigated. “Obviously, I’m being investigated.”

Asked if he would be found guilty of corrupt practices, Jonathan said: “I wouldn’t want to make certain comments because, when a government is working, it’s not proper for immediate past presidents to make certain statements.

“I will allow the government to do the work it’s supposed to do.

“I wouldn’t want to make serious comments on that; it’s not proper.

“After all, these investigations, the whole stories will be properly chronicled.

“I’ve just left office and I should allow the President and his team to do what they believe is good for the country.”

Jonathan’s aides have come under heavy scrutiny since he left office, a situation he warned them of at the presidential dinner to mark the end of his tenure on May 28, 2015.

Officials of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have also been arrested and arraigned for corruption, but the anti-corruption agencies are yet to make public their findings from investigation on Jonathan’s involvement.

Dr. Jonathan expressed confidence that the authorities can reach an agreement with militants in the Niger Delta to stop their attacks that have slashed production.

“Definitely, it will be resolved; yes, government can always overrun restive movements and so on, but the Niger Delta is too delicate. The level of damage will be too much for the government to bear. We used dialogue,” he said.

Jonathan was vice-president when the government offered an amnesty and monthly stipends to militants to end years of instability, which had cut oil output. In February, Jonathan’s successor, President Muhammadu Buhari, reduced the stipends and cancelled security contracts with former military leaders.

A militant group known as Niger Delta Avengers has claimed attacks on facilities belonging to companies, including Chevron Corp., Royal Dutch Shell Plc and Agip Oil Co., causing Nigeria’s output to drop to an almost 30-year low of about 1.4 million barrels per day.

The violence has deepened the crisis facing Africa’s largest economy, which is already reeling from a slump in crude prices. Nigeria gets as much as two-thirds of its revenue and more than 90 percent of foreign income from oil.

Dr. Jonathan denied leaving the country’s finances “virtually empty”.

“There’s no way he would have inherited an empty Treasury,” Jonathan said , adding:  ”It’s not possible.”

Nigeria’s economy is contracting after a decline in the price of Brent by about half since the middle of 2014. Crude exports accounted in 2014 for as much as two-thirds of government revenue, with most state budgets relying on monthly handouts from the federal administration.

Finance Minister Mrs. Kemi Adeosun said last month that a long-delayed 2016 budget may not be fully implemented. The cash crunch has dampened optimism around the election of Buhari who campaigned on an anti-corruption platform, beating Jonathan in the first election victory by an opposition candidate in the nation’s history.

Nigerian authorities have gone after corrupt officials, recovering more than $500 million in cash so far. Investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have brought top officials of Jonathan’s administration under scrutiny, such as his National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, and then-spokesman of his political party Olisa Metuh.

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The Nation