Leave the Itsekiri Land-itsekri natives tell the Niger Delta Avengers

– Itsekiri leaders have dissociated themselves from the Niger Delta Avengers and urged them to leave the area or be arrested – The group also called on Itsekiri people to assist the military and law-enforcement agencies in catching the insurgents The leaders of the Itsekiri ethnic group in Niger Delta area, Delta state, have condemned the activities of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) operating in the area. A statement issued by Mr. Edward Ekpoko on behalf Itsekiri Leaders of Thought (ILoT) in Warri on Wednesday, May 25, reads in part: A fall in Nigeria’s oil production to its lowest level in twenty years “We watched with surprise and anger the re-emergence and/or increase in insurgency in Warri area in particular the Niger Delta in general by a group, which calls itself the Niger Delta Avengers. Its goal as claimed, among others, is to cripple the Nigerian economy if their selfish demands are not met. between February and now major oil and gas pipelines have been vandalized bringing down our oil production to 1.65million bpd as against the 2.2million bpd estimated 2016 budget, the lowest in 22 years. The Itsekiri ethnic nationality is against the DNA Following these unpleasant developments, the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought met and took the following resolutions: That the Itsekiri ethnic nationality condemns the criminal activities of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) and dissociates itself from the demands of the group. We can say that no Itsekiri person is a member of this nefarious group and we call on all our sons and daughters to assist the military and other law-enforcement agencies in arresting these criminal activities.Ayiri Emami Niger Delta Region is not the home to Ijaw ethnic nationality alone, several others including the Itsekiri, Urhobo, Bini, Ikwerre, Ibibio, Anang, Efik etc. are occupying it and most of the vandalized oil and gas facilities so far are on Itsekiri land. Leave off Itsekiri land now We warn those behind this heinous crime to leave off Itsekiri land. The agenda of the group is selfish and self-serving and does not have the support of the well-meaning people of the Niger Delta.” Earlier this week the Nigerian military vowed to sustain its onslaught against Niger Delta militants, Boko Haram and criminal Fulani herdsmen across the country. Also, the managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and first Presidential Adviser on the Amnesty Programme, Timi Alaibe, may return to the post to deal with insurgency in Niger Delta area.