The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), has

condemned the activities of new militant group in the Niger Delta

region, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).

In a statement released yesterday by its spokesman, Jomo Gbomo,

MEND said the Niger Delta Avengers have nothing to do with the

Niger Delta struggle but rather they are geared towards

destabilizing the Buhari-led government. The statement in part

reads

“The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta

(MEND) wishes to condemn and dissociate itself from the

recent activities carried out by a group known as the Niger

Delta Avengers. Their sudden emergence has absolutely

nothing to do with the Niger Delta struggle but rather a tool

by certain elements to destabilise the current government.

Going by their actions and subsequent statements, it has

become very apparent on who the sponsors of these group

are. MEND serves notice to the international community that

the Niger Delta region shall not be part of a secessionist

Biafran State. Rather, the group believes in one strong

united Nigerian federation where the principles and ideals

of resource control; true federalism; rule of law/respect for

human rights; democracy; free enterprise and a vibrant

civil society are well entrenched in the grundnorm and put

to practice.”

MEND in its statement said the group remains opposed to what it

described as “fraudulent and unsustainable” Presidential Amnesty

Programme ( PAP), headed by Brigadier General Paul Boroh. "The

Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) remains

vehemently opposed to the fraudulent and unsustainable

Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP). headed by Brigadier

General Paul Boroh (rtd) which still runs on the corrupt

bureaucratic and operational template of the past administration.

We have always made it very clear that unless the root issues which

gave birth to the agitations in the Niger Delta region are addressed,

in the form of a sincere dialogue, this programme will only continue

to remain a mere cesspool of corruption.”