The former Niger Delta war lord, Ateke Tom has warned the
faceless newly formed Niger Delta Avengers to stop causing more harm to
the region through their criminal activities, saying that attack on oil
installations would only bring pains and suffering to the people of the
region.
Ateke, while condemning the activities of the Avengers
whom he described as desperate criminals said no Niger Delta youths
would support any criminal act in the region.
The Okrika High
Chief spoke Monday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital while reacting
on the activities of the Avengers and the effect on the people of Niger
Delta.
He regretted that if the group continues with their
criminal activities it would once again expose women and children in the
region to serious hardship, adding that he is ready and willing to
offer assistance to the Federal government to negotiate with the
Avengers if the group is ready for peace.
He called on the
security agencies to fish out the criminals and prosecute them in line
with the law if they refused to lay down their arms and unmasked
themselves as responsible citizens.
Ateke said: “As one
of the peace ambassadors in this region, I want to state it clear that
any responsible Niger Delta youths would not support the criminal act
being perpetrated by the so-called Niger Delta Avengers. I condemned in
totality the activities of this frustrated, faceless and desperate
masked group called the Avengers.
“I am also pleading with the
ex-war lords not to use the issue of the avengers to hit up the polity
by causing trouble in the region, either by name calling or by insulting
our elders and chiefs. Bombing and destroying our oil installations and
government properties in the region is only exposing children and women
to another hardship.
“I want to call on the elders and chiefs in
this region to talk to their children; there is no gain in violence and
trouble making. We must see ourselves as one and learn how to support
the government at the centre whether we are in support of it or not. In
my state I have since started sensitization campaign against kidnapping
and vandalism.”
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