Niger Delta Avengers

Last updated
Niger Delta Avengers
Leaders Moudoch Agbinibo
Dates of operationJanuary 2016 – present
Headquarters Delta State (allegedly)
Active regions Niger Delta
Ideology Regionalism
Allies Red Egbesu Water Lions
Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force
Niger Delta Red Square
Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate [ citation needed ] IPOB/ESN
OpponentsFlag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria
Battles and wars Conflict in the Niger Delta Insurgency in Eastern Nigeria
Website Official website

The Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) is a militant group in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. [1] The group publicly announced their existence in March 2016. [2]

Contents

The NDA is known for attacking oil-producing facilities in the deltas, causing the shutdown of oil terminals and a fall in Nigeria's oil production to its lowest level in twenty years. [2] The attacks caused Nigeria to fall behind Angola as Africa's largest oil producer. [3] The reduced oil output has hampered the Nigerian economy and destroyed its budget, [4] since Nigeria depends on the oil industry for nearly all its government revenues. [5]

The NDA's stated that their aims are to create a sovereign state in the Niger Delta and have threatened to disrupt Nigeria's economy if their aims are not met. The NDA claims its members are "young, educated, well travelled...and educated in east Europe". The group criticised the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, for having never visited the delta and his detention of the Biafran independence activist Nnamdi Kanu. [2] [6]

Organization

The leadership of the organization is not understood, as many local leaders have acted as the spokesperson to the government. This has made it difficult for the government to make meaningful contact with the group. Nigerian officials are also disorganized when speaking with the members, as many have found it their duty to make contact. [7]

Additionally, many Niger Delta militant groups have sprung up in the wake of the NDA’s 2016 actions. These copycat organization have contested claims to various act against numerous oil companies originally attributed to the NDA. [8] The most prominent of these splinter groups has been the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA), whose similarity of name has caused confusion both inside and outside the country but is not affiliated with the NDA. [9]

Timeline of activities

2016

2017

2018

2019

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References

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  2. 1 2 3 "Nigeria arrests 'Avengers' oil militants". BBC News Online. 16 May 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  3. Elena Holodny (16 May 2016). "Africa's largest oil producer has been dethroned". Business Insider. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  4. "The Niger Delta Avengers: Danegeld in the Delta". The Economist . 25 June 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  5. "Avengers unite! Violence in the Delta has cut oil output by a third. It may get even worse". The Economist . 25 June 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  6. Joel, Motunrayo. "Biafran independence movement leader Nnamdi Kanu arrested – not 'fake news'". Africa Check. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
  7. DiChristopher, Tom (2016-10-26). "The Niger Delta Avengers are back — and they've got big oil in their crosshairs". www.cnbc.com. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
  8. Ovie Okpare, Warri (8 August 2016). "I've nothing to do with Niger Delta Avengers – Tompolo". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  9. Findlay, Stephanie. "Niger Delta Avengers spawn copycats in Nigeria's oil heartland". finance.yahoo.com. Yahoo! Finance. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  10. "Militants Bomb Nnpc Pipelines Same Day Chevron Gas Line In Delta Was Attacked". The Nigerian Voice . 8 May 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  11. "We Didn't attack any Military Houseboat". NDA. 2 June 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  12. "STRIKE TEAM THREE STRIKES".
  13. "Niger Delta Avengers declares fresh war on oil facilities". Punch Newspapers. 4 November 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  14. "Niger Delta Avengers". Niger Delta Avengers. Niger Delta Avengers. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  15. Akwagyiram, Alexis; Carsten, Paul (14 February 2019). "Nigeria 'Delta Avengers' militants vow to cripple economy if Buhari re-elected". Reuters. Reuters World News. Retrieved 2 November 2020.