simplyolat 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.”