A member of the Niger Delta Avengers has issued a chilling warning to President Buhari – In a phone conversation, the militants says the president will be signing his death warrant by visiting Ogoniland – The militant also warns that any residents who support the federal government against the group will be killed for collaborating A professed member of the Niger Delta Avengers has warned the life of President Muhammadu Buhari will be in danger if he visits the Ogoniland, the oil rich area of Rivers state. In a recording sent to IBTimes UK, a man is heard saying during a phone conversation with one of the hosts of the UK-based Radio Biafra that Buhari would be signing his death warrant by visiting the delta.
Buhari is due to visit several states in southeastern Nigeria to discuss with local leaders ways to tackle renewed violence in the area. The president’s planned visit, expected to begin on Thursday (2 June 2016) – comes amid attacks on oil pipelines blamed on the new group Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).
The attacks have partially halted oil production and forced Chevron and Royal Dutch Shell to close at least two plants. “Buhari is trying to visit Ogoniland, but he should sign his death warrant before coming to Port Harcourt or try to visit any state of the Niger Delta community, Biafra land,” the suspected NDA member said. “We are starting a dance he cannot finish. We shall dance like vultures.
He [Buhari] has dared to wake a sleeping lion, but I promise him this time around if he tries to step his foot in any community of the Niger Delta, in Biafraland, he will not go back alive. “Any Niger Deltan who will try to walk with Buhari shall also go to his grave that day. This is our assurance.”
The alleged militants also condemned the Nigerian security forces for shooting pro-Biafran demonstrators during commemorations to pay homage to the victims of the Nigerian Civil War on Monday. “The Nigerian government shot and killed our brothers. They showed us they are the monsters,” the man said.
He then urged all pro-Biafrans to pray for Nnamdi Kanu, the director of radio Biafra and leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra [IPOB], who is standing trial on six counts of treasonable felony charges. Brigadier General Rabe Abubakar however, Nigeria’s director of defence information, dismissed the NDA’s threats.
“Niger Delta is part of Nigeria and will remain part of Nigeria for life. Buhari is the president, he is number one, he can go anywhere he wants,” he said.
Empty threat