Wike, Dickson, Dokpesi, Tompolo Others Listed As Niger-Delta Avengers Sponsors

A splinter group of the Niger Delta Avengers, the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers, has named those it tagged the sponsors and sympathisers of the militant group that has destroyed several oil pipelines.

The destruction of the pipelines by the Niger Delta Avengers has reduced Nigeria’s oil production by over 800,000 barrels per day.

The country was producing about 2.2 million barrels per day before the advent of the Niger Delta Avengers.

In a statement on Sunday by Cynthia Whyte, the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers said those sponsoring the Niger Delta Avengers included Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State.

Also on the list of sponsors are a former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, who is now the Senate Minority Leader; wanted ex-militant, Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo; a national chairmanship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi; and a former head of the Federal Government’s Amnesty Programme, Kingsley Kuku.

Equally named as sympathisers of the Niger Delta Avengers are former Federal Commissioner for Information and elder statesman, Edwin Clark; Niger Delta activists – Tony Uranta, Daniel Alabrah and Annkio Briggs; and a former spokesman of the PDP, Olisa Metuh.

Named as operatives of the Niger Delta Avengers were Oyege Nimi Brown, VIP Timothy, Joshua Macaiver and Paul Bebenimibo, while the President of the Ijaw Youth Council, Udengs Eradiri, is alleged to be the spokesman of the group.

Eradiri is said to be the popular General Murdoch Agbinibo, who issues the Niger Delta Avenger statements.

As at press time, none of those named by the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers as sponsors and sympathisers of the Niger Delta Avengers has disputed the claim.