The Nigeria Police Force (NPF), has declared one suspected high ranking member of the Niger Delta Avengers, Mr. Ezuwe Henry, wanted.
Niger Delta Avengers is one of the most dreaded militant groups operating in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The group which styles itself as ‘freedom fighters’ has regularly launched deadly attacks on oil facilities and installations in the region.
The body which started as a peaceful pressure group to draw government attention to the underdevelopment and abject poverty ravaging the region that is producing crude oil which is the financial mainstay of the country, later turned into a militant group, following the incessant killings and arrests of its members.
The activities of the militant groups in the oil producing areas of the country, had forced some oil companies and their affiliates to suspend operation in the area, thus grossly reducing Nigeria’s oil supply to the international market.
As a result of this, the federal government launched major military operations in the area with aim of restoring peace to the region and stabilizing oil production in the area.
But in the process of doing so, many members of the militant groups were killed and maimed as a result of the military operations which were launched through the land, air and sea.
Known members of the militant groups who were able to escape the military onslaught, were pursued to houses, villages and hiding places where they either neutralised or arrested.
Up till now, the military and other security forces are still carrying out manhunt for the fleeing militants, some lucky ones have been forced to renounce their membership, even though many of their comrades are languishing in various military facilities.
Thus the Nigeria Police Force in June 2016, after unsuccessful attempts to arrest Mr. Ezuwe Henry of Umukwata village in Delta state, not only declared him wanted but also placed him on the police wanted list which will make it possible for him to arrested anywhere he is seen on the soil of the Nigerian territory.
A police statement signed by ACP Francis Gbiwen of the office of the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Criminal Division of Zone 5 headquarters in charge of Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States, alleged that Mr. Ezuwe Henry led the group of militants that blew up Agip pipeline facilities in Bayelsa state.
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