Militant leader asks group to embrace peace

Waney also told the NDA and other militant groups to stay away from Rivers state, adding that he will engage any group that dares him.

Waney said “On a strong note, we are non-violent and we shall remain so in our collective agitation for a better ONELGA (Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA), Orashi and Rivers State.

“In the light of this, we call on the Niger Delta Avengers group to leave ONELGA and Orashi region out of their targets.

“We are against the bombing and destruction of vital oil and gas installations in our communities. We shall not allow them or any of their type to enter our land.

“We want peace and development and that is what we have signed with our governor, Nyesom Wike. Rivers State is peaceful and we do not want outsiders to cause crisis and general insecurity in our state again.”

Adding that “We have, accordingly, accepted amnesty gesture the government has granted us. We salute the governor for his love, for the sanctity of lives of some young people, who may have been deceived in the past.

“We believe that the amnesty will go a long way to transform for good, the lives of these youngsters. We hereby call on other armed groups to embrace the amnesty programme and give up militancy so that together, we can benefit from the development strides of the Rivers State Government.”

The Niger Delta Avengers recently urged President Muhammadu Buhari to embrace peace as a means of solving the crisis in the volatile region.