Niger Delta Avengers, the militant group that has been destroying oil installations in Niger Delta has denied claims that two suspects- Mr Christian Oluba alias Sensor, and Selky Kile Torughedi which the Department of State Service, DSS said are now in its custody are its members.
The secret police had in a statement yesterday said it arrested Oluba and Torughedi which it described as members of NDA as they were planning to unleash series of bombing of oil facilities in the Niger Delta.
The Service said Sensor was arrested while perfecting plans to carry out attacks on critical oil and gas pipelines, including storage points.
Torughedi, which was described as an ex-militant and a close associate of Government Ekpomopolo, alias Tompolo, according to DSS was arrested in Calabar, Cross River State.
The Service alleged that that Torughedi have carried out reconnaissance on the home of a serving military officer, M.B.Yahaya, in Kaduna and was about to assassinate him before he was arrested.
“The suspect was said to be assisting the DSS with leads into the crime and those associated with him,” the Secret Police said in a statement signed on its behalf by one Tony Opuiyo.
But while disputing the DSS claim, Brig. Gen Mudoch Agbinibo, spokesperson for NDA said the two suspects are agents of DSS which the secret police have tried to use to infiltrate its ranks without success in the past.
The militant group claimed the sleeper agents fell out with DSS when they demanded to be paid for the services they have rendered.
“The boys have the right to demand for their money from DSS, why not pay them instead of arresting and labeling them as Niger Delta Avengers members.” The militant group challenged DSS to parade the or allow the suspects speak to the media.
“If DSS are denying this, let them allow the suspects to speak to the press. We (Niger Dleta Avengers) don’t have any connection with these boys. We dare the DSS to allow the boys to tell the world their side of the story.
“DSS and Nigeria Army can’t win the Niger Delta war by feeding their President with false information about situation of things in the Region. It’s all-good because as it seems the DSS is now having internal crisis with most of their sleeper agents and it a sign that God is on our side,” NDA said even as it accused the secret police of deceiving the President.
“There are problem in the Niger Delta region such as underdevelopment, environmental degradation, lack of infrastructure and the issue of self-determination.
“These are the areas Mr. President should focus on, not arresting their allies and linking them to Niger Delta Avengers.
“This is to DSS Director Lawal Daura, this the holy month of Ramadan and as a Muslim you hold it to Allah and the Nigeria people to say the truth. Why not come out with the truth.
“To the Nigeria press, there is always two sides to a story. Why not try to get the other side of the story by interviewing the boys
“The Nigeria army will never get us (Niger Delta Avengers), let them go and settle with their sleeper agents and stop deceiving the general public and their President,” NDA said.