The Twitter accounts and websites of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) used to announce the activities of the militants to the public have been shut down.
Attempts to access the twitter account of the Avengers yesterday met with a sordid warning: “this account has been suspended”. Also, their website could not be opened as it displayed a piece of information: “The requested URL/?m=1 was not found on this server.”
This is the second time the Avengers’ media accounts would be suspended. Last May, a similar thing happened to both accounts, but they were later restored. It was not clear yesterday if the account and website were closed down by government operatives or they were deliberately suspended by the Avengers for their own safety.
Meanwhile, the Ijaw youths have blamed the Federal Government for the renewed hostilities by the militants.
A brief statement by the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) spokesman, Eric Omare, said the Federal Government had not taken any practical step towards resolving the issues raised by the Avengers since President Muhammadu Buhari returned from his medical trip abroad.
He said: “It is unfortunate and worrisome that there is a resumption of fresh attacks on oil facilities in the Niger Delta region by the Niger Delta Avengers. The visit of the Minister of State, Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu’s to the creeks some weeks ago generated so much goodwill and commendation from the people of the region and the IYC had expected the Federal Government to take advantage of that goodwill to engage stakeholders on how to find short and long term solutions to the problem.”
The Ijaw youth body, while urging urgent response from government to resolve the crisis, called on the Avengers to halt further attacks on facilities, considering the negative effects of their actions on the Niger Delta environment, and give room for constructive dialogue.
Another militant group, The Utimate Warriors of Niger Delta, has also blamed the Federal Government for the renewed hostilities.
The spokesman of the group, Sibiri Taiowoh, said: “How can the president claim that he will rebuild the Niger Delta region whereas he is doing everything to annihilate us.”
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