According to Punch, the Nigerian Army has arrested 10 suspected members of militant group, Niger Delta Avengers. The suspects were reportedly arrested in the early hours of Saturday, May 28, 2016, in Oporaza community, in the Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State. The arrest was confirmed by the Commander of the 4 Brigade, Brigadier-General Farouk Yahaya, who paraded the suspects in Benin, Edo State on Sunday, May 29.
“Within the period under review, you can see that the Niger Delta Avengers have claimed virtually all acts of criminal activities against oil and gas and they continue threatening a shutdown of the whole sector. So, most likely, they (suspects) will be the people, who else would they be?” Yahaya said
“Operations that led to these arrests and recoveries were conducted professionally, guided by our mandate, operation orders, code of conduct and rules of engagement. Our operations are strictly targeted against perpetrators of all criminal acts in our area of responsibility and not innocent citizens.”
“We are not worried by voodoo. It did not stop the suspects from being arrested and others that have been arrested before now. Whatever a person wants to use, he can use it. But I know that God is always on the side of the truth,” he added.”
Yahaya also revealed that items recovered from the suspects include 28 detonator cords (also known Detonator 33), one pistol, two pistols, 196 rounds of 7.62 special ammunition, one round of nine-millimetre ammunition, a live cartridge and five daggers.