The Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, has condemned the recent attacks on oil facilities by a new militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers, asking the federal government to deal decisively with the perpetrators.

The spokesman of the Congress, Eric Omare, said on Monday in Yenagoa that there could be no justification for destroying oil facilities and causing environmental problems for the people of the region.

He urged the government to investigate the attacks and ensure that real perpetrators are brought to book instead of unleashing security agencies on innocent people of the affected communities.

“We do not see the justification in the Niger Delta Avengers embarking on destruction of oil facilities, Omare declared, noting that former militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, has denounced the group.

“I think Tompolo did the proper thing by coming out to inform the entire world that he was not part of the NDA when there were insinuations to the effect that he was behind them.”

He noted that the people and the environment in the region are usually the ultimate victims of any attack on oil installations in the area, adding that “irrespective of their grievances, there are better ways of expressing them rather than contributing to the further destruction of the already massively degraded Niger Delta environment.”

The IYC spokesman said that even as the Congress does not support the attacks,  it does not want them to be used as an excuse to go after innocent residents of the affected communities.

“From our experience, the security personnel in a bid to impress their superiors and justify the huge amount of money budgeted for the purpose, always attack innocent communities and people.

“This must not be allowed to happen this time around . We would also advise the Federal Government to be prompt in directing security agencies to deal with insurgent groups all over the country including the Fulani herdsmen who have been killing innocent Nigerians just like they have just directed in respect of the Niger Delta Avengers.” Omare added,

The Niger Delta Avengers has claimed responsibility for the recent attacks on oil facilities in the Niger Delta, including the ones on the SPDC platform at Forcados, the Chevron Okan platform at Abiteye in Escravos, and the crude oil pipelines.

Reacting to the attacks at the weekend, the federal government directed the military to do everything in its power to halt any resurgence of militancy in the Niger Delta.