Niger Delta Avengers warned as ex-militants cry out over Buhari’s fire
– A group of ex-militants have cried out over FG’s decision to use force and fire instead of peace and freedom on them
– The group under the aegis of Former Forest Soldiers claims that FG has reneged on its part to fulfil its obligation to them following reports they have a link with the Niger Delta Avengers
– The group says they have surrendered and given peace a chance
A group of ex-militants under the aegis of Former Forest Soldiers (FFS), aka Isaac Boro Last Born, has denied claims by security agencies that it belongs to Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), a militant group largely responsible for the bombings of oil and gas facilities across the Niger Delta region.
Speaking on Monday, August 1, leader of the FFS General’ O. Ibori urged the federal government to stop treating them as militants because they have given peace a chance, Vanguard reports.
READ ALSO: Group tells PMB to talk with ND Avengers reps and not MEND
File photo of militants
General Ibori said while absolving the group of culpability in any act of bombing or kidnapping in Arepo area of Lagos, its leader: “We are ex-militants and not part of Avengers. We are shocked that the federal government has reneged on its part to fulfil its obligation from the several peaceful dialogues we had with it after we laid down our weapons for years now.
“We have surrendered but rather than fulfil its obligation by enlisting us in the amnesty programme, the federal government just began linking us to some recent kidnappings in the Arepo area of Lagos and the destructive activities of the Avengers that we know nothing about. All we want is to be part of the amnesty programme as the final step of the various dialogues.
“Security forces have burnt down three houses of our leader in Lagos in connection with a purported recent kidnapping in Arepo area and security men have been hunting us down. This is why we are crying out that we were not responsible for any act of kidnapping and we are not part of the Avengers, only that we are asking to be enlisted in the amnesty programme.
“The government has chosen force and fire instead of peace and freedom. It has reneged on its part after the various dialogue we had, but we have pledged to be law abiding and never return to arms any longer. We are now asking the federal government to stop harassing us and members of our families, including burning down our homes and stop treating us as if we are part the Avengers, because we have given peace a chance.”
READ ALSO: IYC tells PMB to tackle resource control problem in Niger Delta
Militants in the Niger Delta region especially the Niger Delta Avengers have been blowing up pipelines in the region and has vowed to continue with this destruction until zero oil is produced in the region.
Following the re-occurring oil pipeline vandalism, Nigeria’s daily oil production has reduced to 680,000 barrels per day.
According to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), with the high level of vandalism by the Nigerian Delta Avengers, the infrastructure in the oil sector will not get back to work until after about 15 to 20 years.
However, President Muhammadu Buhari recently revealed that his administration is in talks with Niger Delta militants.
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