The Isoko youths under the aegis of Isoko Youths Dynamic Association have issued a disclaimer to the President, Muhammadu Buhari and all concerned as regards the continuous attacks on oil installations in the Niger Delta region by the Avengers militant group.
The group through its president, Jamnogo Blessing in a statement addressed to the president dissociated itself from the militant group in the area adding that it had no part nor affiliations to the militant group.
In a statement released by the group, the Isoko Youths Dynamic Association referred to a publication by a UK based magazine, ‘Economist’ released on 23rd of June, 2016 which implicated the group’s president, Jamnogo as the leader of the militant group delegation who visited Yenagoa, the Bayelsa state capital to purchase arms.
Economist in its publication, “Avenger Unite’ wrote: “Jamnogo Blessing, a gang member, recently turned up in Yenagoa, a turbulent city in the oil-pumping Niger Delta, to buy a stash of weapons from militants who hung up their boots seven years ago”.
The group described the allegation as baseless and false adding that it was malicious, misconstrued and an attempt to set him and his group up against the Federal Government, Delta State and Idheze community.
Jamnogo further cleared the air noting that he is the President of a Socio-political non-militant group.
“The Isoko Youth Dynamic Association whose goal is to canvass for the welfare and security of not only its members but that of his community and the entire Delta State.
The group calls on the general public especially the Idheze community and Delta State indigenes at home and in diaspora to disregard the said publication while urging the publishers of the magazine to retract the report and render an apology to the President of the group, Mr. Jamnogo Blessing, the Isoko Youth Dynamic Association, Idheze community, Delta State Government and the Federal Government of Nigeria for the alleged character defamation”.