Niger Delta Avengers, Army in war of words over killing of soldiers

The Niger Delta Avengers and the Nigerian Army on Thursday engaged in a war of words over who killed soldiers and civilians in a houseboat in Warri, Delta State on Wednesday.
The soldiers and civilians were killed at the houseboat in Ejere community of Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.
While the Nigerian Army fingered militants for the attack in which six persons have been confirmed killed, new militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers, told the military to look elsewhere.
The attack was confirmed by the 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Benin.
Captain Jonah Unuakhalu, the Assistant Director of the Public Relations Unit of the Brigade, made the confirmation in a press statement issued on Thursday to newsmen in Warri.
Unuakhalu said six persons died in the attack.
Unuakhalu said suspected militants attacked the houseboat with five speed boats mounted with 250 horse power outboard engines and disguised as normal commuters.
According to him: “At about 5.50pm on June 1, 2016, Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Houseboat deployed at Ejere junction in Warri South Local Government Area was attacked by suspected armed militants group.
“During the deliberate attack, two soldiers were killed, one wounded, one soldier missing while four civilian staff attached to the houseboat were shot dead.
“The attack occurred when other members of the troop were on pipeline patrol.”
Unuakhalu said the Brigade condemned in strong terms the attack on its personnel and the other innocent civilians who were discharging their constitutional duties.
While urging the people to go about their legitimate businesses, he promised that the attack would not deter the military from carrying out its constitutional duties.
He said: “The Brigade will not be deterred by such dastardly acts, but will remain resolute in discharging its constitutional duties.
“Furthermore, those who carried out the criminal acts will surely be sought, apprehended and brought to justice.”
However, the Niger Delta Avengers said its style was not about shedding blood.
Rather, it asked the military to look elsewhere for the culprits in this case.
In a statement by its spokesman, Brigadier General Mudoch Agbinibo, titled: “We didn’t attack any Military Houseboat,” the Niger Delta Avengers said: “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.”