Chidi Samuel || The relative peace enjoyed in the Niger Delta region may have come to an end following the announcement on Friday by the Avengers of the termination of its cease-fire agreement with the federal government.
In a statement on Friday, Murdoch Agbonibo, Avengers spokesman said they are resuming hostilities and that the carnage to follow will be worse than what was witnessed in 2016.
Part of the statement read, “We can assure you that every oil installation in our region will feel the warmth of the wrath of the Niger Delta Avengers.”
“To the elders of the Niger Delta, PANDEF, we warned you against the antics of the Nigerian government yet you requested a chance to broker a new vision for our people; we told you and the rest of the world that the Nigerian government is only interested in our oil wells and not our well being yet you told us the signs are different this time around,” he said.
“We want to make it known to the PANDEF and the Nigeria government that our call for halt on ‘Operation Red Economy’ is officially over.
“We have just concluded headcount of our operatives across the Country; we are pleased to announce that all our operatives are intact and focused; ready to implement instructions from the high command of the NDA in the going few days.
“To the Nigerian government, we are aware of Egina FPSO built in South Korea by Samsung to be operated by Total Nigeria. One of the biggest FPSO built in South Korea has started its voyage to the oil fields of the Niger Delta to further exploit us while our concerns are left unattended. We are presently tracking and monitoring its movement and God willing, it shall not operate successfully in amidst the return of the fury of the Niger Delta Avengers.”
Before the peace deal, activities of the militant group decimated Nigeria’s oil production and contributed in tipping the country’s economy into recession.