From Magnus Eze, Abuja

Senate Minority Leader, Chief Godswill Akpabio has denied being the sponsor of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) or any other militant group.
An online publication had reported that a splinter group, the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA) had claimed Senator Akpabio and other eminent Nigerians were their sponsors.
However, the former Akwa Ibom State governor described the publication as “baseless, reckless and senseless.
“It is a fabrication from the pit of hell from those who are profiteering from the crisis in the Niger Delta and would wish no end to it,” he said.
The senator in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Anietie Ekong said: “For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state categorically that Senator Akpabio has no link with the NDA or any other militant group for that matter.
“Contrarily, the position of Senator Akpabio as a foremost advocate of dialogue in resolving the Niger Delta crisis is well known. He is of the strong belief that blowing up pipelines and causing further environmental pollution to the Niger Delta is not in the interest of the region as it would take over 100 years to remediate the effects of such environmental degradation.
“Neither does he believe that economic sabotage at a time of economic recession the nation is currently passing through can be an answer to the Niger Delta problem.”
Ekong wondered why anybody in right frame of mind would contemplate associating Akpabio’s name with militancy and degradation of a region that he had laboured to build while serving as governor of Akwa Ibom State between 2007 and 2015.
He cautioned that politicising the Niger Delta crisis through propaganda would amount to an ill wind that would blow nobody any good.

…We’re not in dialogue with FG  –Militants

By Philip Nwosu

A group, the Adaka Boro Avengers has called on multinational oil companies in the Niger Delta to steer clear of the area until the Federal Government decides on the modalities for peace in the area.
The group also denied claims by the government that it was in dialogue with them on how to return peace to the area.
A statement from the spokesperson of the Adaka Boro Avengers ‘General’ Edmos Ayayeibo warned the oil companies to desist from effecting repairs of damaged pipelines until the Federal Government opens a channel of dialogue.
The group said it would not hesitate to sacrifice its deity to anyone caught effecting repairs on damaged pipelines and oil facilities in the area.
While calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to work towards ensuring peace in the Niger Delta area, the Adaka Boro Avengers said government should stop putting more lives of innocent Nigerians on the line, rather should strive to open dialogue with the militant groups in the area.
President Buhari had recently given a hint that his administration was dialoguing with militants believed to be remnants of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), as confirmed by its spokesperson, Gbomo Jomo.
But the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) denied any talks with the government.
According to NDA spokesman, Mudoch Agbinibo, “if there is any such peace talk, it means the president is talking to their mercenaries set to disrupt the genuine struggle of the agitators. President Buhari administration is not sincere to the Nigerian people and their foreign allies. If we are to engage in any peace talk we made it clear that the international community must be part of it. The president knows our demands. So, they should stop deceiving the international oil companies, the general public and the international community.”
He insisted that all the NDA was demanding was restructuring of the country.