Leaders of the Niger Delta region, under the aegis of Concerned Niger Delta Leaders, on Wednesday, described the attacks on oil installations by Niger Delta Avengers as criminal acts that threatens the people of the region.

This was disclosed by the National Coordinator of the group, Mike Loyibo, during a press conference in Abuja.

He noted that the activities of the group pose a threat to the unity of Nigeria.

“We have for some time watched with utmost dismay the manner in which the Niger Delta Avengers, a group with an aimless agenda, has been destroying our common heritage and the economic mainstay of the country through the vandalisation of critical government infrastructure and oil installations.”

“To us, the agenda of these people still remains unclear. At best, their actions are clear acts of sabotage and criminality, both against the state and humanity. It is also a direct threat to the collective existence of us all. The activities of the Niger Delta Avengers also threaten the un-negotiable unity of Nigeria to its very foundation, and this must be condemned by all well meaning stakeholders.”

Speaking on the activities of security forces in the region, Loyibo said, “You don’t use military solutions in addressing problems, one of the steps, we want to use is to be able to use former agitators who embraced the Amnesty Programme. If you bring all the military, you have not solved the problem.”

“The problem is not to go and crush them, the problem is to dialogue with them and ensure that you solve the problem once and for all. If there are any issues then, try to address them.”

Mazi Emeka