Leadership reports that the Federal Government has made good its warning to deal decisively with the Niger Delta Avengers and other militants in the oil rich region of Niger Delta. It was also reported that security agencies have closed down on the alleged sponsors of the militant group. Reports say some former office holders in former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration have been identified, and their bank accounts frozen.
According to Leadership, an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) source said the Department of State Services (DSS) has also asked them to freeze the accounts of former presidential aide, Dr Waripamowei Dudafa. The source also said:
“We have been given some specific directives to freeze more accounts belonging to some officials of the past government because there are security concerns and clues that such accounts may indeed be sponsoring the so called avengers who are on rampage in the Niger Delta.
“From Thursday, we have actually effected some restrictions. Mind you, we started with the closure of the account of Dudafa which had about N900 million and he went ahead to blackmail us that we disallowed him access to medicals, which is a lie. Here is a man who pleaded not to be taken to prison custody turning around to say otherwise. So as it is, we have to arraign him next sometime next week.”
Meanwhile, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright has also called on the Federal Government to consider other non military options to deal with the situation in the Niger Delta.