militant slam MEND for calling them criminals

The Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) have accused the Governor of Edo state, Adams Oshiomhole and ex-Governor of Bayelsa state, Timipre Silva of encouraging the Movement For the Emancipation of The Niger Delta (MEND). The militant group also called MEND criminals, adding that their days of crime are over. The Niger Delta Avengers also said their agenda is to liberate the people of the region and not to run after pipeline contracts. They also accused ex militant leaders like Boyloaf and Ateke Tom of carrying out several crimes in the Niger Delta. The militants in a statement obtained from their official website, and signed by its spokesman, Brig.Gen Mudoch Agbinibo said: "We appeal to the general public and all sane minds on the activities of Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) to disregards all purported statements and misplaced threat emanating from disbanded criminal elements like the so-called MEND (Movement For the Emancipation of The Niger Delta) that are political sidekicks and desperations from Gov. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state, Mr. Timipre Silva and their political paymasters to hold their political party to the jugular of the affairs of the Niger Delta Region. "That our struggle is focused on the liberation of the People of Niger Delta from decades of divisive rule and exclusion. We are watching keenly their regretful efforts at rebranding and regrouping criminal elements in the region for their short political gains and territories. "The NDA is unperturbed, we have mandate that is clearly a departure of those old tactics of the defunct so-called MEND that was indulged in kidnapping, hostage taking, Sea piracy, illegal oil bunkering, bank robberies and social crimes, the likes of Boyloafs, Ateke Toms, were associated to in their days in the name struggle. "The wind of change in the Niger Delta struggle has come, we are are young, smart, and focused Niger deltans. Our mandate is to liberate the Niger Delta people; we don’t run after pipeline contracts. "God bless the Niger Delta People."