The Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), the militant group responsible for most of the destruction on oil assets, says the Department of State Services (DSS) did not arrest any of its members.
On Friday, the DSS said it foiled an attack being plotted by the group and also arrested two of its members.
“In a bid to stem the activities of vandals in the Niger Delta, this service effected the arrest of Selky Kile Torughedi, on 17th June, 2016, in Calabar, Cross River state,” the DSS said in the statement issued by Tony Opuiyo, its agent
“Torughedi is an ex-militant and suspected member of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), and was arrested for planning to assassinate one MB Yahaya, a serving military officer.
“In a related operation, the service arrested one Christian Oluba aka Sensor, another suspected militant with the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).
“Sensor was arrested while perfecting plans to carry out explosive attacks on critical oil and gas pipelines, including critical storage points.”
But Mudoch Agbinibo, spokesman of the avengers, said those arrested were agents of the DSS.
Agbinibo alleged that security personnel have been spreading lies about activities in the Niger Delta, challenging the DSS to allow journalists interview those arrested.
“Reports from national dailies that two suspects Christian Oluba alias Sensor, and Selky Kile Torughedi arrested by DSS are alleged members of Niger Delta Avengers is laughable, the fact is they are sleeper agents of the DSS sent after,” Agbinibo said in a statement.
“The boys have the right to demand for their money from DSS, why not pay them instead of arresting and labeling them as Niger Delta Avengers members? If the DSS is denying this, let them allow the suspects to speak to the press. We (Niger Dleta Avengers) don’t have any connection with these boys. We dare the DSS to allow the boys to tell the world their side of the story.
“DSS and Nigeria army can’t win the Niger Delta war by feeding their president with false information about situation of things in the region. It’s all-good because as it seems the DSS is now having internal crisis with most of their sleeper agents and it a sign that God is on our side.
“There are problem in the Niger Delta region such as underdevelopment, environmental degradation, lack of infrastructure and the issue of self-determination. These are the areas Mr. President should focus on, not arresting their allies and linking them to Niger Delta Avengers.
“This is to DSS Director Lawal Daura, this the holy month of Ramadan and as a Muslim you hold it to Allah and the Nigeria people to say the truth. Why not come out with the truth.
“To the Nigeria press, there is always two sides to a story. Why not try to get the other side of the story by interviewing the boys.
“The Nigeria army will never get us (Niger Delta Avengers), let them go and settle with their sleeper agents and stop deceiving the general public and their president.”
