The leading militant group operating in the oil rich region of southern Nigeria, the Niger Delta Avengers, has denounced an “APC thug” whom the group alleges is parading himself as a representative of the militants in a meeting with the federal government.
In a statement on its website on Friday, June 17, 2016, the Avengers’ spokesman Brigadier General Mudoch Agbinibo named one Mr. Ariyi Emami as the leader of the gang of “political thugs and agents of the APC” who are working to “undermine the Niger Delta struggle”.
In the statement, the Niger Delta Avengers revealed that this same person has been pushing to be awarding pipeline protection contracts in the Niger Delta by the All Progressives Congress, APC, government. The group also said that he has held meetings in the Edo State Government House in Benin City.
The Avengers also revealed that this same Mr. Emami was presenting himself as a representative of the Niger Delta Avengers in a meeting with Nigeria’s minister of state for petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu in the Delta State Government House in Asaba.
Earlier Friday, the Delta Avengers had refuted reports by a citizen reporter website that it was dialoguing with Dr. Kachikwu at the Delta State capital. It called the people in the meeting with the minister imposters.
Mr. Ariyi Emami is known as a “Warri billionaire” on society pages.
“We are watching with keen interest the unwholesome activities of the political thugs and agents of APC to undermine the Niger Delta struggle in the likes of Mr. Ayiri and gangs,” the statement, titled, Niger Delta Struggle Not For Political Thugs, said.
“Few days ago, he and his group was parading, regrouping, rebranding and re-arming defunct Ex-MEND and settled Militants leaders discussing pipelines, oil and gas facilities contract in Edo State Government house.
“Today he and his co-travelers are in delta state Government house, the Itsekiri Militants leader with community leaders and unfortunately branding them as representatives of Niger Delta Avengers for self-gain and political survivals.
“We condemn its entirety the continuous linking of the Niger Delta Avengers to any meeting in Delta State Government in Asaba with Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.
“We have never mincing words in telling the whole listening world that the Niger Delta Avengers will not be part any dialogue deal that will not bring about ‘the peace of our time; but we want a peace with honour’ as such we could not be a party to any meeting with the likes of Ayiri Emami and his co- travelers that that are ready to kill and trade for the interest of pipeline, oil and gas facilities contract from the Government to bloat their pockets and urge fantasies,” Mudoch Agbinibo concluded.
