Photograph — www.ibtimes.co.uk

A claim made by the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) stating that the group was responsible for bombing a Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipeline in the Eleme Local Government Area, has been debunked by the Rivers State Eleme Youth Council (EYC). According to the EYC president, Prince Brian Emere Gokpa, the NDA’s claim is the “imagination of mischief makers whose aim is to project Eleme as a terrible local government area.”

It was reported, on Wednesday the 6th of July, that the NDA posted a report on social media asserting that its “Strike Team 2” had bombed the oil pipeline in Eleme around 3 am the previous day, while adding that they cannot be stopped. However, the EYC maintained, in a press conference in Port Harcourt, that the report is simply false information and should be ignored.

Furthermore, Gokpa issued a warning to potential criminals looking to carry out criminal activities in the Eleme area to either discard their plans or face the wrath of the council and the entire youth body. He stated that the groups in question will not sit idly by and watch the peace and security of their community come under any threat posed by “miscreants.”

The motives of the NDA have come under scrutiny at various times, drawing attention to a seemingly divided vision concerning what and who the people of the Niger Delta region are truly fighting for. Earlier today, the Concerned Niger Delta Elders (CNDE) stated that those involved in regularly bombing oil facilities in the region had only their selfish interests in mind.

In addition to this, the elders mentioned that any member of the region working against the Buhari-led administration was certainly in the wrong, seeing as the present administration is doing more than its predecessors with regards to attempting to improve the conditions in the Niger Delta. In their opinion, for the desired development to occur in the region, the president should receive more cooperation and encouragement from them, rather than trying to stifle his efforts.

Around 03:00 hours this morning, the NDA reiterated their refusal to have a sit down with the Federal Government, and their dedication to their set goals by blowing up yet another Chevron oil facility in Warri, Delta State.

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