Niger Delta Avengers, the militant group that has been destroying oil facilities in Nigeria’s oil producing region of Niger Delta has denied involvement in the killing of two soldiers in Warri, Delta State. It even assured the families of the slain soldiers that it will bring the killers of the military men to book.
The Nigerian Army had in a statement on Thursday said Niger Delta militants attacked a boat belonging to NNPC in the Warri area of Delta state, killing at least six person-four civilians, two soldiers.
“During the deliberate attack two soldiers were killed, one wounded, one soldier missing while four civilian staff attached to the house boat were shot dead,” the army said in a statement. The Army said the attack took place on Wednesday in the Warri area, where the NDA has staged a series of attacks on oil pipelines in recent weeks.
But the NDA, in a statement by one Brid.Gen Mudoch Agbinibo who it described as its spokesperson on its website on Thursday night said killing of sleeping soldiers is not its “style.”
Indeed, the group said in the statement that it “promise the world that in this Process of liberating our People, not a single blood of Nigeria soldiers will be wasted despite the provocation.”
It also advised other militant groups in the Niger Delta to follow the same path warning them that, “You can fight for your people without killing innocent souls NDA have proved it. We were able to drop Nigeria Oil production from 2million Barrels to just 800,000 barrels without killing a soul.”
The full statement by Agbinibo as published on NDA website reads: “The Niger Delta Avengers were not involved in the attack of the Military houseboat around Warri, Delta State. Killing of sleeping Soldiers is not our style. We promise the world that in this Process of liberating our People, not a single blood of Nigeria soldiers will be wasted despite the provocation.
“Even the Inhumane Nigeria soldiers are exempted, our war is on Oil installations not to take innocent lives. For the fact we can’t give Life, we also don’t have the power to take any life. But we (Avengers) are assuring the Families of the affected soldiers that we will bring the culprits to book.
“When it’s time to face the military in combat let the whole world know that we won’t be the ones to throw the first punch.
“This message is going to all groups parading themselves as freedom fighters. You can fight for your people without killing innocent souls NDA have proved it. We were able to drop Nigeria Oil production from 2million Barrels to just 800,000 barrels without killing a soul.
“We are warning every group to follow our footsteps. The days of Killing and Kidnapping are over.”