The Federal Government on Sunday insisted that it was negotiating with the real militants in the Niger Delta geopolitical zone, despite claims by the Niger Delta Avengers that the government was not holding any discussion with the group just as the Niger Delta People’s Congress(NDPC) condemned in strong terms the way and manner the DSS invaded the publishing house of Jones Abiri in Yenagoa and arrested him.
Below is the statement by Niger Delta People’s Congress
Our attention has been drawn to the announcement of the Department of State Service (DSS) that it had arrested a key Militant leader Jones Abiri, who was arrested on July 21 in Yenagoa.
We wish to condemn in strong terms the way and manner the DSS invaded the publishing house of Jones Abiri in Yenagoa in the most unattractive style, such unattractive style is a reminiscent of President Buhari days as the Head of state during his first stint before he was overthrown.
It took the press release of the DSS to allay our fears that Abiri was abducted by unknown gunmen. We urge the DSS to follow due process in carrying out its operations.
Jones Abiri is a highly respected renowned personality in the Ijaw community and a law abiding citizen. As such, we find the press release of the DSS stating that it has arrested “the Militant leader of the Joint Revolutionary Council and the Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force” disrespectful and wish to condemn such disparaging terms as the DSS is not a court duly established by law to impute or find any individual guilty of any crime.
We wish to categorically state that Jones Abiri is innocent until proven guilty, and as such, be accorded the with the right to dignity of human person as contained in section 34 of the Constitution. We are stating this with particular reference to the persecution of Azibaloa Robert who was treated like a common criminal by the Buhari led administration but was later vindicated of any crime by a court of competent jurisdiction.
We the Niger Delta People’s Congress wish to register our displeasure with the persecution being carried out by the Buhari led administration against son’s, daughter’s, father’s, and mother’s of the Niger Delta region. With the activities of the Niger Delta Avengers that has fast tracked the Nigeian economy into recession, we urge the Federal Government to adopt a more productive dispute resolution method than intimidating and harassing sons and daughters of the region.
The Federal Government cannot claim to be negotiating with Militants and still be carrying out systematic arrest of people from the region. The persecution of the already traumatised people of the Niger Delta region is uncalled for.
Signed:
Comrade Ogidi Ben Bara aka OBB, National President on behalf of NDPC
Meanwhile, the Federal Government on Sunday insisted
that it was negotiating with the real militants
in the Niger Delta geopolitical zone, despite
claims by the Niger Delta Avengers that the
government was not holding any discussion
with the group.
Officials at the Federal Ministry of Petroleum
Resources and the Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation stated that the government was in
talks with the restive group in the region.
They argued that those who often claim not to
be on the negotiation table with the
government were either aggrieved or were not
invited.
On Thursday, President Muhammadu Buhari,
stated that his administration was in talks with
the armed militants in the Niger Delta.
Buhari, who said this in Abuja during a
farewell meeting with the outgoing German
Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Michael Zinner,
said the talks were done through security
agents and oil companies operating in the
zone.
But the NDA in a statement by its
spokesperson, Mudoch Agbinobi, denied being
in any talks with the Federal Government,
stressing that the President’s claim was
insincere and aimed at deceiving Nigerians and
the international community.
