By Emma Amaize, Egufe Yafugborhi & Perez Brisibe

WARRI—NIGER Delta Avengers, NDA, yesterday, said that the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, does not have the authority to stand for militants in the Niger Delta struggle, let alone offer a slot in its supposed Aaron Team for any dialogue/negotiations with the Federal Government.

Avengers in an interview with Vanguard said: “The last time we did our reality check, MEND is just  an internet tiger at the mercy of some criminal elements and politicians from the North and so cannot represent the Niger Delta agitation for self-determination,  not to talk of offering us a slot for any dialogue/ negotiation.

“We do know that MEND is speaking on behalf of the All Progressives Congress, APC, government to undermine the Niger Delta question for self- determination. MEND, formed under Tompolo, had accepted amnesty in 2009, and stood disbanded from that moment.

“So, there is no MEND speaking from anywhere or for the Niger Delta struggle.  Instead, we have an internet- based MEND that is let loosed by politicians from the North to sabotage the consciousness of the people of the Niger Delta.

“An internet-based criminal organisation is not allowed to agitate for the Niger Delta.”