Arising from an emergency meeting, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) worldwide, said there is no militant group called Niger Delta Avengers anywhere in the region, and called on the Nigeria government to settle the issue of under development in the region.
Speaking to journalists in Effurun, the group’s president Comrade Udengs Eradiri said: “We don’t know Avengers militants, but militancy in the region will be a thing of the past if the Federal Government takes action to settle all issues of under development in the area” saying that renewed attacks on oil facilities was as a result of long years of neglect of the Niger – Delta region by successive governments.
He said that the new militant group who claimed to be “Avengers” fight was strictly against injustice in the Niger-Delta since the time of Isaac Adaka Boro was still the same fight they are fighting now.
While noting that the Niger-Delta region had lost power at the National level, Comrade Eradiri said the IYC was the only group standing to fight the Niger-Delta struggles, and warned that the Federal Government should stop playing politics with the issue of Niger – Delta struggle and face the issue raised by the so called Niger – Delta Avengers and other agitators.
He called for the immediate commencement of academic and other activities in the Maritime University of Okerekoko by announcing date for the takeoff of the University, adding that it will be the first step to resolving the Niger-Delta crisis.