ASABA – Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) on Thursday described as “biggest joke of the 21st Century”, the claim by the Nigerian Navy that it has arrested its logistics supplier.
In a statement by self-styled Brig. Gen. Mudoch, its spokesman, the group sent a strong warning to members of NUPENG, PENGASSAN and foreigners working in International Oil Companies (IOCs) in the Niger Delta region to leave without further delay in their own interest.
The militants have again vowed to strike soon just as they have denied claims by the Nigerian Navy that it arrested the group’s logistics supplier, saying its operatives were intact, adding that the militants were winning the war.
Mudoch said, “The news that the Nigerian Navy has arrested Niger Delta Avengers’ logistics supplier is the biggest joke of the 21st century. The Nigerian Navy cannot arrest any of our operatives until we bring down the economy of this country.”
According to the militant group, “As it is now, any Tom, Dick and Harry, is a suspect of Niger Delta Avengers.
“The Nigerian Navy has lost its sense of professionalism. The Nigerian military arrested students
in Oporoza and called them Niger Delta Avengers.
“Any criminal caught is a member of NDA, even their business partners (illegal oil bunkers) with whom things went sour, are NDA members. Sea pirates are now Avengers”.
The statement added, “we want to make this clear. All Avengers operatives are intact, our intelligence agencies are all intact and our operational teams are in high spirit because we are winning the war. The Nigerian Navy cannot arrest any of our operatives until we bring down the economy of this country.
Speaking on its warning to oil workers union and foreigners, the militant group has this to say, “Leave all oil fields and terminals in the Niger Delta because it is going to be dirty very soon.”
“When Avengers carry out any major attack, they (Nigerian military) will deny it. First is the blown NNPC pipeline and second, the 48-inch ExxonMobil pipeline blown by NDA. ExxonMobil and the government denied it only for ExxonMobil to declare force majeure a few days after the attack.
“We want the public to know that the Qua Iboe export pipeline is down right now,” the statement concluded.