A Niger Delta militant group, NDLF has demanded the payment of N1billion reparation from the federal government, “for extra judicial murder of our commander and leader of NDLF General John Togo, his soldiers and bombing and killing of innocent citizens in Ayakoromor by soldiers of Joint Task Force (JTF) through both aerial bombing and mini warship attacks in 2010/2011.”
A statement signed by Capt. Mark Anthony, Spokesman of NDLF said “Our organization rose from its slumber suddenly when the government of Nigerian paid similar compensation of N100m (One hundred million) to the Islamic militants Boko Haram leader’s family for extra-judicial murder of Mohammed Yusuf by members of the Nigerian police force over the years.”
The group urged the “federal government to make immediate compensation through our legal team before or not than 21stJune, 2012, or else, NDLF will be forced to go back to the creek for action. The leadership has directed all NDLF soldiers and intending recruits to get ready for action, if the government ignores our demand”.
Read the full text of NDLF’s statement below:
John Togo: Why we demand N1b Reparation from FG
The leadership of Niger Delta Liberation Force (NDLF) has consulted and authorized our legal team led by Bar.Caseley Omo Irabor to demand from federal government on behalf of our organization to pay NDLF and the family compensation of N1.b (one billion naira) for extra judicial murder of our commander and leader of NDLF General John Togo, his soldiers and bombing and killing of innocent citizens in Ayakoromor by soldiers of Joint Task Force (JTF) through both aerial bombing and mini warship attacks in 2010/2011.
Our organization rose from its slumber suddenly when the government of Nigerian paid similar compensation of N100m (One hundred million) to the Islamic militants Boko Haram leader’s family for extra-judicial murder of Mohammed Yusuf by members of the Nigerian police force over the years.
NDLF’s objective was clear as our agitation was for local control of oil revenue arising from decades of years of criminal injustice and balkanization by the Nigerian government. NDLF as part of our scope of operations, did not go about the streets of Niger Delta to murder innocent citizens and security operatives unlike our counterparts, Boko Haram who went bombing and killing innocent citizens, including church worshippers, security formations,UN building and other major strategic targets that had caused pains to hundreds of families. But yet, the federal government of Nigeria decides to beg them by paying N100m to the slain Boko Haram leader Mohammed Yusuf and others by the police.
We therefore, consider this as slap on our faces and urge the federal government to make immediate compensation through our legal team before or not than 21stJune, 2012, or else, NDLF will be forced to go back to the creek for action. The leadership has directed all NDLF soldiers and intending recruits to get ready for action, if the government ignores our demand.
Signed
Capt. Mark Anthony, Spokesman NDLF
