The Niger Delta Avengers, a new militant group operating in the oil-rich region of Southern Nigeria, has issued a new statement, Tuesday, May 31, 2016 on the brutal military invasion of Gbaramatu Kingdom in which the group raised a number of issues with a number of players in the Niger Delta restiveness.
The statement on the group’s website titled, Tompolo Before Your Eyes Your People Are Suffering, says that Nigerian soldiers who invaded Gbaramatu Kingdom in Delta State are committing crimes against humanity including systematic rape of girls in the community.
Gbaramatu is the home of former Niger Delta warlord, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo who has called on the Delta Avengers to cease hostilities and negotiate with the federal government. He has denied any involvement with the group.
The statement, signed by Brigadier General Mudoch Agbinibo, who appears to have been promoted from the rank of colonel, calls out the army commanders overseeing the Gbaramatu invasion in which community leaders say that soldiers are looting and burning homes and residents have fled into the forest.
The group also says that a pipeline contractor, Captain Okunbor Idahosa, chairman and chief executive of Oil Marine Services has induced Nigerian Army brigade commander of Benin, Brigadier General Faruk Yahaya and the officer commanding army gunboat of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF), Major M. B. Yahaya with the sum of N250 million to destroy Gbaramatu Kingdom under the cover of hunting for the Niger Delta Avengers.
Oil Marine Services (OMS) whose Chairman and CEO is Capt. Okunbor Idahosa also known, as Capt. Hosa is the company Nigerian Government awarded the Pipeline surveillance contract to spanning from Escravos to Lokoja. The said Capt. Hosa bribed the Brigade Commander Benin (Brig. Gen. Faruk Yahaya) alongside the Officer Commanding Army Gunboat, JTF (Major. M. B. Yahaya) with the sum of two hundred and fifty million naira (250,000,000) in collaboration with one Ayiri Emami to destroy Gbaramatu Kingdom in the guise of looking for the Niger Delta Avengers.
The Avengers promise to take vengeance over these acts of brutality against the innocent people of Delta State and mocked the army for going after soft targets while they have no ability to capture the militants.
“To you Capt. Hosa the new pipeline protector; the intelligence unit of the Avengers has your full data, we know where all your assets are located and that most of your businesses are in the Niger Delta. For this single act of injustice against the innocent people of Gbaramatu you, your wife and entire family will suffer,” the statement said.
They also mocked Tompolo and expressed disappointment at his collaborative stance with the federal government. The former warlord has also called on the Nigerian military to end the brutal occupation of his community alleging that soldiers are looting and burning homes of his kinsmen.
The Niger Delta Avengers say it is waging a war for a free Niger Delta Republic in what it tags, Operation Red Economy, with a view of halting crude oil production in Nigeria to force the government to grant the group’s demands. The group has presented an 11-point demand to President Muhammadu Buhari and the first is the implementation of the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference. [Download Conference report HERE.]
By the way, President Muhammadu Buhari has not read the report and believes it should remain in “the archives”, archives is a code word for dustbin.
Below is the full statement published on the group’s website, reproduced unedited.
Our dear brother Tompolo, how is your friendship with the Nigerian Government. The people you took side with against us (the Niger Delta Avengers). We offered you the olive branch by beckoning you to join us in this struggle, but you refused
It is not our business what goes on in Gbaramatu Kingdom but our concern is the innocent children, women and aged people whom the Nigerian military has chased away from their homes now taking refuge in the forest. We warned you before hand that the Nigerian Government, can never be trusted.
To the Nigeria military, why are you looking for soft targets? If you are looking for the Avengers you know how to find us. Don’t deceive your President. Information gathered by the Intelligence unit of the Niger Delta Avengers revealed that Oil Marine Services (OMS) whose Chairman and CEO is Capt. Okunbor Idahosa also known, as Capt. Hosa is the company Nigerian Government awarded the Pipeline surveillance contract to spanning from Escravos to Lokoja. The said Capt. Hosa bribed the Brigade Commander Benin (Brig. Gen. Faruk Yahaya) alongside the Officer Commanding Army Gunboat, JTF (Major. M. B. Yahaya) with the sum of two hundred and fifty million naira (250,000,000) in collaboration with one Ayiri Emami to destroy Gbaramatu Kingdom in the guise of looking for the Niger Delta Avengers.
The question is, why the innocent people of Gbaramatu, why the innocent pregnant women, why unleash terror on the aged people of Gbaramatu, Capt. Hosa, Major Yahaya, Ayiri and Brid. Gen Faruk must you waste all these innocent blood just to secure the pipeline surveillance job? Why making the innocent people of Gbaramatu suffer? This act of the Nigerian Army to us is the greatest act of cowardice. This fight we believe is against the Avengers and not the innocent villagers of Gbaramatu Kingdom.
Where is the International Community and the United Nations when all these unspeakable injustice, is served the people of Gbaramatu Kingdom by the very unprofessional Nigerian Military? Are they not aware of the raping of young girls, looting and destruction of properties by the Nigeria military in Gbaranmatu kingdom?
As for you Tompolo, what do you have to say about the horrible treatment meted your people by Nigerian Military, are you still going to call the Niger Delta Avengers criminals, are you still going to take side with the Nigeria Government against your people? What happened to you (Tompolo)? We respect the love you have for your people the Niger Delta. What is really happening to you when the likes of Mr Ayiri, Capt Hosa and Co are unleashing this kind of atrocities on your people, has the wealth you acquire made you soft that you don’t know what to do anymore?
The Nigerian Military cannot intimidate us by harassing innocent Niger Deltans. Gbaramatu is just one kingdom in Delta State. The Niger Delta is made up of seven States, it is therefore very funny to lure us to halt our well-planned line of actions that will shock the whole world by harassing innocent villagers.
To you Capt. Hosa the new pipeline protector; the intelligence unit of the Avengers has your full data, we know where all your assets are located and that most of your businesses are in the Niger Delta. For this single act of injustice against the innocent people of Gbaramatu you, your wife and entire family will suffer.
To Major M.B. Yahaya, we are sure you have not seen real combat before; how did you rose to the rank of a Major this is to show that Nigerian Military is finished if it to depend on people like you. You are only good at harassing innocent women and children in the name of looking for the Niger Delta Avengers. We are not surprised because all Nigerian Military are corrupt. Be assured that we are making this fight personal with you as we shall make your life a living hell. Can anyone tell the difference between Major MB Yahaya, Brig. Gen Faruk Yahaya and Boko Haram? We are asking because we cannot spot any difference.
Is the Nigeria military now a hired gun for the rich? The Amnesty International should take note of these officers who authorized the harassing of the innocent people of Gbaranmatu.
To the International Oil Companies and Indigenous Oil Companies, it’s going to be bloody this time around. Your facilities and personnel will bear the brunt of our fury, which shall fall upon you like a whirling wind.
Brig.Gen Mudoch Agbinibo
Spokesperon.
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