Abuja – President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed to deal ruthlessly with any group of militants calling for renewed violence in the Niger Delta.
Buhari whose threat is coming amidst violent agitations for resource control and self determination by militant Ijaw youths from the Niger Delta said in as much, the government was not opposed to citizens’ right to protest, his government would not condone any act of agitation.
He said that all those who have been found to be involved in the act of agitation would not be spared by his government.
Recall that in May 2016 when the present government was marking its first anniversary, militants Ijaw youths operating under the aegis of the Niger Delta Avenger launched an all out ‘war’ on oil pipelines, well heads etc thereby affecting the country’s oil production output, prompting government’s massive deployment of troops to the oil rich region to protect government critical assets.
As a result, the joint Military Task Force (JTF) had promptly declared wanted renegade ex-militant leader Solomon Ndigbara,Utoka Ovinimini,Government Ekpemekpumo aka Tompolo for their alleged involvement in the agitation and struggle for the economic emancipation of the region.
In same vein, both Valentine Ovbigie, Timothy Osauzo suspected to be some of the leaders of the militant groups in the Warrior axis of the Niger Delta region are also on the government wanted list over fresh alienation
that the two men who also who had disappeared into the thin air after they were declared wanted by the military some years back are still being suspected to have links with the masterminds of some recent attacks on oil installations in the region which the Buhari administration had vowed not to treat with kids gloves.
However, sources close to the dou’s family claim recent allegations against Timothy and Valentine are false as they are both innocent.
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