Isoko youths under the aegis of Isoko Dynamic Youths Association, IDYA, on Wednesday distanced themselves from the Niger-Delta Avengers, NDA.
The President of the association, Mr Jamnogo Blessing, told newsmen in Yenagoa that the media reports linking his people to the Niger-Delta Avengers were maliciously misconstrued.
According to Blessing, the reports were an attempt to set the group up against not only the Federal Government of Nigeria, but against the Isoko people of Delta state as well.
“The Isoko Dynamic Youths Association is a socio-political organisation and a non-militant group, whose goal is to canvass for the welfare of not only its members, but the entire youths and people of Isoko in Delta state and beyond.
“We are not militants and we do not have any link whatsoever with the Niger-Delta Avengers or any other militant group under any guise.
“As an organisation that promotes peace and abhors violence, we condemn the indiscriminate destruction and bombing of oil facilities by militant groups in the Niger-Delta.
“We, therefore, state unequivocally that dialogue remains the only path to sustainable peace and development in the Niger-Delta and not violence or militant confrontation.
“We urge the people of Idheze and Isoko to disregard the rumours making the rounds,’’ he said.
According to him, no amount of blackmail or campaign of calumny will deter the group from pursuing its noble objectives.
NAN
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