New militant group responsible for the bombing of oil facilities in the Niger Delta region, the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, on Tuesday, said claims by the Nigerian Military that no fewer than 10 of its suspected members were arrested on Sunday, was false.
The Nigerian Army said it arrested 10 suspected militants and pipeline vandals in the Niger Delta region, on Sunday.
The Commander, 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Benin City, Farouk Yahaya, while addressing journalists had said that the the Nigerian Army arrested 10 suspected militants and pipeline vandals in the Niger Delta region, on Sunday. Yahaya had said the suspects were arrested during a cordon and search exercise conducted in Oporozoa community and its environs in Delta State.
However, Mr. Yahaya, a Brigadier General, said the arrested suspects may have links with the Niger Delta Avengers. He said guns, ammunition and other equipment were recovered from them. He said the operation was conducted professionally in line with the code of conduct and rules of engagement of the Nigerian Army.
He said the Army is committed to tackling pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta region. But in a tweet today, via its Twitter handle, @NDAvengers, the militant group said: “Our attention has been drawn to the arrest of 10Niger Delta Avengers boys by Nigerian Military. None of our Strike Team has been arrested. It’s all lies.”
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