Niger Delta militants on Wednesday gave the Federal Government till Friday, June 3, 2016 to release the corpses of 10 pro-Biafra agitators.
The ultimatum is coming four days after some supporters of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra were killed during a clash with security agencies in Onitsha, Anambra State.
The militants also threatened to avenge “unprovoked” killing of Biafra supporters by security operatives.
In a statement issued online, the Niger Delta militants explained that their decision to avenge the attack on the pro-Biafra protesters was reached after an emergency meeting organised by some leaders of various militant groups in the oil rich region.
“If Federal Government fails to release them (corpses) by Friday, June 3, 2016, they will hear from us from Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Edo States,” the militants said.
The leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Democratic Front, Precious Iyoyo, aka General Playboy; and his counterpart of the Concerned Militant Leaders, General Ben, pointed out that it was depressing to observe the level of tactlessness displayed against the people.
They expressed their sympathy for Biafra, adding that they were aware of how members of MASSOB, the Indigenous People of Biafra and the Biafra Independent Movement were killed without provocation.
The militants vowed to go after security operatives in an unprecedented manner, adding that the operation would be carried both on the sea and on the land.
General Ben had specifically said the Federal Government has simply declared war against innocent Nigerians through the action of security operatives on Monday.
He said, “It is now war between the militants and security men. Since innocent and helpless citizens, especially from South-South and South East, have been marked for extinction, we will defend our people.” (Punch)
